?  I  = 


FROM    THE   LIBRARY   OF 

REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,   D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY   OF 

» 
PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


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in  2012  with  funding  from 

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• 


HISTORICAL  SKETC 


HYMNS, 


THEIR  WRITERS,  AND  THEIR  INFLUENCE. 


JOSEPH   BELCHER,  D.D. 

AUTHOR    OF    "\VILUAM    CAREY:    A    BIOGRAPHY;"    ';  GEORGE    VHITEFIELD :    A    BIOGRAPHY; 
"RELIGIOUi    DENOMINATION'S    OF   THE   UNITED    STATES,"    ETC.    ETC. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
LINDSAY    &     BLAKISTON. 

NEW  YORK :  SHELDON  &  COMPANY. 
1859. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1859.  by 

LINDSAY  &  BLAKISTON, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Eastern 

District  of  Pennsylvania. 


STEREOTYPED  BY  I..  JOHNSON  &  CO. 

PHILADELPHIA. 

COLLINS,    PRINTER. 


PREFACE. 


That  the  subject  of  this  volume  is  of  great  interest 
no  reader  will  deny.  That  more  than  one  writer 
has  published  important  matters  relating  to  it  is 
well  known  ;  but  assuredly  comparatively  little  truly 
interesting  to  the  mass  of  Christian  readers  has  yet 
been  collected.  No  one  is- more  aware  of  the  diffi- 
culties of  the  task  than  the  author  of  the  present 
small  work,  for  which  he  has  been  collecting  mate- 
rials for  many  years.  Importunity  of  friends  may 
truly  be  pleaded  in  this  instance;  and  he  has  at  least 
the  confidence  that  he  has  done  what  he  could,  and 
will  rejoice  if  his  work  shall  provoke  a  wiser  man 
to  produce  a  better. 

To  the  casual  reader  it  may  appear  that  a  small 
degree  of  labor,  given  now  and  then  in  moments  of 
leisure,  would  soon  produce  a  volume  like  that  now 
in  his  hand.  It  would,  however,  convince  such  a 
one  of  his  mistake  were  he  to  attempt  the  task.  lie 
would  soon  find  that  the  most  attractive  volume 
must  often  be  laid  aside,  that  "  AV  must  be  given 


6  PREFACE. 

to  the  kindest  invitation  to  the  tempting  social 
party,  and  that  even  the  meetings  of  the  most  de- 
lightful revival  of  religion  recorded  in  history  must 
be  sacrificed,  to  complete  what  years  and  disease  tell 
him  may  not  otherwise  be  accomplished  before  death 
summons  him  from  earth.*  To  verify  a  fact,  to  con- 
firm a  date,  or  to  answer  what  some  might  consider 
an  unimportant  query,  has  often  demanded  hours 
which  inclination  or  the  gratification  of  friendship 
would  have  otherwise  claimed. 

The  author  feels  a  pleasing  confidence  that  his 
labors  will  tend  to  increase  an  interest  in  the  great 
duty  and  privilege  of  praise,  and  do  somewhat  to 
advance  a  spirit  of  union  with  those,  not  a  few  of 
whom  are  now  in  a  better  world,  who  have  so  greatly 
aided  our  worship  on  earth.  As  such,  he  commends 
his  feeble  effort  to  the  favor  of  his  adorable  Master 
and  to  the  kindness  of  his  readers. 

J.  B. 

Philadelphia,  July,  1S59. 


*  The  Rev.  Dr.  Belcher  seems  to  have  anticipated  a  result  which 
has  since  taken  place.  He  departed  this  life  on  Sunday  morning, 
July  10th,  1859,  not  many  hours  after  his  labors  had  ceased  on 
this  volume. 


CONTENTS 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES. 

PAGE 

Definition  of  a  Hymn — Character  and  Influence,  by  Henry 
Ward  Beecher — Musical  Establishment  of  David — Extract 
from  Dr.  Lyman  Coleman — Singing  of  the  Early  Chris- 
tian Church — Hymns  of  the  Early  Fathers — Chrysostom 
— Augustine — Singing  and  Death  of  William  the  Con- 
queror— Latin  Singing  now  practised  in  Winchester  Col- 
lege— The  Gospel  perpetuated  by  Old  Hymns — Singing  in 
the  Dark  Ages — Revised  at  the  Reformation — Congrega- 
tional Singing  in  England — Divisions  in  Churches  on 
the  Subject — Influence  of  Calvin — Luther — Royalists  and 
Roundheads  at  York  Minster — Mace — Baxter — Pilgrim 
Fathers — Symmes — Cotton  Mather — Decline  in  Singing — 
Its  Revival — Curious  Facts — Singing  in  the  Revival  of 
1735 — Early  Printing  of  Hymns  and  Music — Remarkable 
Poetical  Compositions — Dr.  Lowell  Mason — Amusing 
Facts — Singing  in  the  Methodist  Church — Wesley — 
Whitefield — True  Use  of  Music — Instruments  in  Churches 
— Singing  in  Brazil — Alterations  in  Hymns — Real  Im- 
provements— Importance  of  Chanting — Length  of  Church 
Services — Hints  on  Good  Singing 19 


CONT]  NTS. 


AUTHORS  AND  ORIGIN  OF  HYMNS. 

PAOI 

Sarah  F.  Adams 73 

Joseph  Addison 73 

Christopher  Angelus 74 

Rev.  James  Allen 75 

Mrs.  G.  "W.  Anderson 70 

Rev.  Leonard  Bacon,  D.D 7<J 

Rev.  John  Bakewell 77 

Rev.  Thomas  Baldwin,  D.D 78 

Mrs.  Anna  L.  Barbauld 79 

Bernard  Barton 79 

Rev.  Christopher  Batty 81 

Rev.  Richard  Baxter 82 

Rev.  Benjamin  Beddome 83 

Rev.  Charles  Beecher 86 

Bernard 86 

Rev.  John  Berridge 87 

Rev.  G.  W.  Bethune,  D.D 90 

Rev.  Thomas  Blacklock,  D.D 91 

Rev.  James  Boden 92 

Rev.  Horatius  Bonar,  D.D 93 

Rev.  T.  E.  Bond,  M.D 94 

John  Bowdler 95 

John  Bowring,  LL.D 95 

Frederika  Bremer 95 

Rev.  Jehoiada  Brewer 96 

Rev.  John  N.  Brown,  D.D 97 

Phoebe  H.  Brown 97 

Rev.  Simon  Browne 98 

Elizabeth  Barrett  Browning 100 

John  H.  Bryant 101 

William  Cullen  Bryant 102 

William  Budden.... 102 

Rev.  W.  M.  Bunting 103 

Rev.  John  Bunvnn 104 


CONTENTS.  9 

FAfll 

Rev.  George  Binder 104 

Bishop  Burgess,  D.I) 105 

Rev.  Richard  Burnham 106 

Robert  Burns 10G 

Thomas  Campbell 107 

Rev.  John  Cawood 108 

Rev.  Richard  Cecil 108 

Thomas  Von  Celano 109 

Rev.  John  Cennick Ill 

Rev.  E.  H.  Chapin,  D.D 112 

Charlemagne 113 

Rev.  Ingram  Cobbin 114 

Rev.  W.  B.  Collyer,  D.D.,  LL.D 115 

Josiah  Conder 116 

Rev.  Thomas  Cotterill 116 

Nathanael  Cotton,  M.D 117 

William  Cowper 118 

Rev.  A.  C.  Coxe,  D.D 126 

Rev.  W.  Croswell,  D.D 126 

Robert  Cruttenden 127 

Rev.  J.  W.  Cunningham 128 

Rev.  S.  S.  Cutting 129 

Rev.  Thomas  Dale 129 

Rev.  President  Davies 130 

Rev.  Eliel  Davis 130 

Rev.  David  Denham 131 

Rev.  David  Dickson 132 

Bishop  Doane 13-4 

Rev.  Philip  Doddridge,  D.D 134 

JohnDryden 141 

Rev.  George  Duffield,  Jr 142 

Rev.  Timothy  Dwight,  D.D 143 

Rev.  Sidney  Dyer 144 

Rev.  J.  W.  Eastburne 144 

Charlotte  Elliott 144 

Rev.  R.  Elliott 145 

James  Edmeston 146 


]0  CONTENTS. 

PA'iK 

Rev.  William  Enfield,  LL.D 140 

Jlev.  Jonathan  Evans L46 

Rev.  John  Fawcett,  D.D 147 

John  Fellows 150 

Eliza  Lee  Follen l'>[ 

luv.  Benjamin  Francis 151 

Rev.  Richard  Furman,  D.D 153 

Rev.  W.  II.  Furness,  D.D 153 

Thomas  H.  Gallaudet,  LL.D 154 

Kev.  John  Gambold 154 

Rev.  Paul  Gerhard 15G 

Rev.  Thomas  Gibbons,  D.D L~>7 

Ann  Gilbert 1  -u 

Rev.  Thomas  Gisborne 158 

LordGlenelg 158 

John  Mason  Good,  M.D 159 

Hannah  F.  Gould 159 

James  Grant 1G0 

Thomas  Greene 1G1 

Rev.  Joseph  Grigg 161 

Madame  Guion 161 

Rev.  William  Hammond 163 

Rev.  Joseph  Hart 164 

Rev.  Thomas  Haweis,  LL.B.  and  1VLD 165 

Bishop  Heber 167 

Rev.  George  Herbert 168 

Rev.  James  Hervey 171 

Rev.  Rowland  Hill 172 

Bishop  Home 173 

Rev.  Joseph  Humphries 174 

Rev.  G.  B.  Ide,  D.D 174 

Rev.  William  Jay 175 

Rev.  Edmund  Jones 175 

Rev.  Adoniram  Judson,  D.D 176 

Rev.  Thomas  Kelly 177 

Bishop  Ken 179 

John  Kent 182 


CONTENTS.  11 

pagk 

Francis  S.  Key 183 

Rev.  William  Kingsbury 184 

Rev.  Andrew  Kippis,  D.D 185 

Rev.  Mr.  Kirkham 18G 

Rev.  John  Langford 180 

Rev.  John  Leland 187 

Rev.  John  Logan 187 

Henry  W.  Longfellow 188 

Ann  Lutton 189 

Rev.  Henry  Francis  Lyte 190 

Mrs.  Mackay 190 

Rev.  Martin  Madan 191 

Rev.  Basil  Manly,  Jr 193 

Rev.  John  Mason 193 

Rev.  Samuel  Medley 194 

Rev.  Henry  H.  Milman...*. 195 

John  Milton 196 

James  Montgomery 197 

Thomas  Moore 203 

Rev.  Thomas  Morell 204 

Rev.  William  A.  Muhlenberg,  D.D 204 

Rev.  John  Needham 205 

Rev.  James  Newton 206 

Rev.  John  Newton 206 

Hon.  and  Rev.  Baptist  Noel 210 

Andrews  Norton 211 

Rev.  John  F.  Oberlin 211 

Rev.  Samson  Occum 213 

Rev.  Thomas  Olivers 214 

Krishna  Pal 215 

Mrs.  Palmer 216 

Rev.  Ray  Palmer,  D.D 217 

Rev.  A.  P.  Peabody,  D.D 217 

Rev.  Samuel  Pearce 218 

Rev.  Edward  Perronet '. 219 

Alexander  Pope 225 

Rev.  Thomas  Raffles,  D.D.,  LL.D 226 


12  CONTENTS. 


M01 


Rev.  Andrew  Reed,  D.D ,  228 

Rev.  Robert  Robinson 229 

Rev.  John  Ryland,  D.D 231 

Hon.  and  Rev.  Walter  Shirley 234 

Lydia  Huntley  Sigourney 235 

Rev.  S.  F.  Smith,  D.D 236 

Anne  Steele 237 

Rev.  Samuel  Stennett,  D.D 239 

Rev.  Amos  Sutton,  D.D 240 

Sternhold  and  Hopkins 241 

Rev.  Joseph  Swaine 243 

William  B.  Tappan 244 

Tate  and  Brady 245 

G.  Tersteegan 246 

Rev.  Augustus  M.  Toplady 247 

Miss  Tuck ■ 249 

Rev.  Daniel  Turner 250 

Rev.  Benjamin  Wallin 251 

Rev.  W.Ward 252 

Rev.  Ralph  Wardlaw,  D.D 253 

Rev.  Henry  Ware,  D.D < 253 

H.  S.  Washburn '.....  254 

Rev.  Isaac  Watts,  D.D 254 

TheWesleys 268 

Henry  Kirke  White 291 

John  G.  Whittier 292 

Rev.  William  Williams 293 

Nathanael  P.  Willis 294 

William  Wordsworth 295 

Francis  Xavier 297 


CONTENTS.  13 


ILLUSTRATIONS  OF  THE  INFLUENCE  OF  HYMNS  ON 
PERSONAL  AND  SOCIAL  HAPPINESS. 

INDIVIDUAL   PERSONS. 

PAGE 

A  University  Student 301 

An  English  Actress 302 

An  Irish  Persecutor 304 

A  Young  Man 305 

An  Unhappy  Mother 308 

An  English  Nobleman 309 

An  Irish  Sunday-Scholar 312 

Governor  Hill 315 

Campbell,  the  Poet 315 

A  Taunting  Lover 316 

A  Dying  Jewess 317 

A  Chimney-Sweeper 319 

A  Suffering  Mother 319 

Robert  Hall 320 

A  Vermont  Clergyman 321 

A  Sick  Child 322 

An  Aged  Lady 322 

A  Young  Man  in  Virginia..... 323 

A  Dying  Pastor 324 

A  Military  Officer 32G 

The  Blind  Psalmist 326 

THE    DOMESTIC    CIRCLE. 

Two  Sisters  in  New  York  State 328 

The  Young  Captive  and  her  Mother 329 

A  Family  in  Louisiana 332 

The  Brothers  and  Sister 333 

2 


14  CONTENTS. 


PAGE 


Two  Young  Women 334 

Quarrelsome  Neighbors 335 

Klopstock  and  his  Wife 336 


MINISTERS    AND    CONGREGATIONS. 

Rev.  Samuel  Bradburn 337 

Rev.  Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin 338 

Rev.  Robert  Hall 339 

Rev.  Dr.  Stillman 339 

Rev.  Dr.  Broaddus 340 

Thoughtless  Clergymen 340 

A  Tory  Minister 342 

Dr.  Mason 343 

Mr.  Dawson 345 

Fault  Found 345 

A  Clergyman  in  Georgia 346 

A  Deacon  in  a  Difficulty 347 

Regulations  of  Singing 348 

Importance  of  Right  Feelings 349 

An  Old  Parody 351 

Singular  Music 351 

Hymns  of  the  Old  Style 352 

Singing  at  Bangor 353 

Redstone  Presbytery 356 

Boston  Congregations 357 

Coincidence 358 

China 358 

Rev.  Dr.  Emmons 360 

English  Clerks 361 

Facts  about  Anthems 364 

Congregational  Singing 370 

Sacramental  Singing 373 

Collegiate  Dinner  at  Andover 373 

Singing  on  board  the  North  Carolina 373 

Churches  in  Scotland 374 

An  Impressive  Scene 375 


CONTENT-  1.) 

PACK 

A  Real  Amendment 376 

Miscellaneous  Facts 378 


GENERAL    SOCIETY. 

A  Private  Circle 379 

A  Vast  Crowd 380 

Anniversary  at  Andover 381 

The  Missionary's  Landing 383 

Officers  of  the  British  Navy 385 

New  York  Merchants 386 

Miscellaneous 388 


HISTORICAL  SKETCHES 


CHURCH   MUSIC  AND  CHOIRS. 


»• 


Historical   Sketches. 


Before  entering  on  the  principal  design  of  this  vo- 
lume, it  may  be  proper  very  briefly  to  glance  at  the 
character  of  hymns,  and  the  opinions  entertained  of 
them  by  Christians  in  successive  ages. 

A  writer  in  the  " Presbyterian  Quarterly  Review"  not 
long  ago,  says  of  a  good  hymn,  "  It  forms  words  that 
thrill  thousands  of  all  classes  and  characters,  and  thrill 
them  all  at  once.  Words  that  will  do  this  must  be  at 
the  same  time  simple  and  dramatic,  understood  in  a 
moment,  and  yet  carrying  profound  feelings — those  uni- 
versal things  that  are  '  borne  inward  unto  souls  afar/  " 

As  to  the  character  and  influence  of  hymns  on  the 
hearts  of  Christians,  our  views  are  so  well  delineated  by 
the  graphic  pen  of  Henry  "Ward  Beecher,  that  we  shall 
borrow  his  language,  as  far  more  conducive  to  the  benefit 
of  the  reader  than  our  own : — "  Hyinns  are  the  expo- 
nents of  the  inmost  piety  of  the  Church.  They  are  the 
crystalline  tears,  or  blossoms  of  joy,  or  holy  prayers,  or 
incarnated  raptures.  They  are  the  jewels  which  the 
Church  has  worn, — the  pearls,  the  diamonds,  and  precious 
stones,  formed  into  amulets  more  potent  against  sorrow 
and  sadness  than  the  most  famous  charms  of  wizard  or 


20  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

magician.  And  he  who  knows  the  way  that  hymns 
flowed,  knows  where  the  blood  of  piety  ran,  and  can 
t  race  its  veins  and  arteries  to  the  very  heart. 

"  No  other  composition  is  like  an  experimental  hymn. 
It  is  not  a  mere  poetic  impulse.  It  is  not  a  thought,  a 
fancy,  a  feeling  threaded  upon  words.  It  is  the  voice 
of  experience  speaking  from  the  soul  a  few  words  that 
condense  and  often  represent  a  whole  life.  It  is  the  life, 
too,  not  of  the  natural  feelings,  growing  wild,  but  of 
regenerated  feeling,  inspired  by  God  to  a  heavenly  des- 
tiny, and  making  its  way  through  troubles  and  hin- 
derances,  through  joys  and  victories,  dark  or  light,  sad 
or  serene,  yet  always  struggling  forward.  Forty  years 
the  heart  may  have  been  in  battle,  and  one  verse  shall 
express  the  fruit  of  the  whole.  One  great  hope  may 
come  to  fruit  only  at  the  end  of  many  years,  and  as  the 
ripening  of  many  experiences.  As  there  be  flowers 
that  drink  up  the  dews  of  spring  and  summer,  and  feed 
upon  all  the  rains,  and  only  just  before  winter  burst 
forth  into  bloom,  so  is  it  with  some  of  the  noblest  blos- 
soms of  the  soul.  The  bolt  that  prostrated  Saul  gave 
him  the  exceeding  brightness  of  Christ ;  and  so  some 
hymns  could  never  have  been  written,  but  for  a  heart- 
stroke  that  wellnigh  crushed  out  the  life.  It  is  cleft  in 
two  by  bereavement,  and  out  of  the  rift  comes  forth.  as 
by  resurrection,  the  form  and  voice  that  shall  never  die 
out  of  the  world.  Angels  sat  at  the  grave's  mouth ;  and 
ho  hymns  are  the  angels  that  rise  up  out  of  our  griefs, 
and  darkness,  and  dismay. 


HISTORICAL    8KETCHES.  21 

u  Thus  born,  a  hymn  is  one  of  those  silent  ministers 
which  God  sends  to  those  who  are  to  be  heirs  of  salva- 
tion. It  enters  into  the  tender  imagination  of  childhood, 
and  casts  down  upon  the  chambers  of  its  thought  a  holy 
radiance  which  shall  never  quite  depart.  It  goes  with 
the  Christian,  singing  to  him  all  the  way,  as  if  it  were 
the  airy  voice  of  some  guardian  spirit.  When  darkness 
of  trouble,  settling  fast,  'is  shutting  out  every  star,  a 
hymn  bursts  through  and  brings  light  like  a  torch.  It 
abides  by  our  side  in  sickness.  It  goes  forth  with  joy  to 
syllable  that  joy. 

"  And  thus,  after  a  time,  we  clothe  a  hymn  with  the 
memories  and  associations  of  our  own  life.  It  is  gar- 
landed with  flowers  which  grew  in  our  hearts.  Born  of 
the  experience  of  one  mind,  it  becomes  the  unconscious 
record  of  many  minds.  We  sang  it,  perhaps,  the  morn- 
ing that  our  child  died.  We  sang  this  one  on  that  Sab- 
bath evening  when,  after  ten  years,  the  family  were  once 
more  all  together.  There  be  hymns  that  were  sung  while 
the  mother  lay  a-dying ;  that  were  sung  when  the  child, 
just  converted,  was  filling  the  family  with  the  joy  of 
Christ  new-born,  and  laid,  not  now  in  a  manger,  but  in 
a  heart.  And  thus,  sprung  from  a  wondrous  life,  they 
lead  a  life  yet  more  wonderful.  When  they  first  come 
to  us,  they  are  like  the  single  strokes  of  a  bell  ringing 
down  to  us  from  above ;  but  at  length  a  single  hymn  be- 
comes a  whole  chime  of  bells,  mingling  and  discoursing 
to  us  the  harmonies  of  a  life's  Christian  experience." 

Mr.  Beecher  elsewhere  says,  with  great  truth,  that 


22  HISTORICAL    SKETCH  I 

"  when  the  Church  is  cold  and  dead,  these  hymns  which 
were  written  by  God's  saints  in  moments  of  rapture 
seem  extravagant,  and  we  walk  over  them  on  dainty 
footsteps  of  taste ;  but  let  God's  Spirit  come  down  upon 
our  hearts,  and  they  are  as  sweetness  to  our  tongues; 
nay,  all  too  poor  and  meagre  for  our  emotions ;  for  feel- 
ing is  always  tropical,  and  seeks  the  most  intense  and 
fervid  expression/' 

In  glancing  at  the  history  of  praise  and  its  various 
modes  of  expression,  we  may  remark  that  nothing  in 
the  whole  records  of  history  can  be  found  to  compare 
with  the  splendid  musical  establishments  of  David,  at 
once  the  king  of  Israel  and  the  psalmist  of  the  Lord. 
From  the  narrative  given  us  in  the  twenty-third  chapter 
of  the  First  Book  of  the  Chronicles,  we  must  infer  that 
both  music  and  poetry  were  then  in  a  highly-flourishing 
state.  No  less  than  four  thousand  singers  or  musicians 
were  appointed  from  among  the  Levites,  under  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty-eight  principal  singers  or  leaders  of  the 
band,  and  distributed  into  twenty-four  companies,  who 
officiated  weekly  by  rotation  in  the  temple,  and  whose 
whole  business  it  was  to  perform  the  sacred  hymns 
One  portion  of  them  chanted  or  sung,  and  the  other 
played  on  different  instruments.  The  chief  of  these 
were  Asaph,  Heman,  and  Jeduthun,  who  were  also  com- 
posers of  hymns.  Milton  himself  must  have  admitted 
that  the  choir  was  worthy  in  its  amplitude  of  those  fre- 
quent songs  throughout  the  law  and  the  prophets  which 
he  held  "  incomparable,"  not  in  "  their  divine  argument 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  23 

alone,  but  in  the  very  critical  art  of  composition,  over 
all  the  kinds  of  lyric  poetry." 

Dr.  Lyman  Coleman,  in  his  "Apostolical  and  Primitive 
Church"  very  properly  tells  us  that  the  singing  of  songs 
constituted  a  great  part  of  the  religious  worship  of  all 
ancient  nations.  In  all  their  religious  festivals,  and  in 
their  temples,  the  pagan  nations  sung  to  the  praise  of 
their  idol  gods.  The  worship  of  the  Jews,  alike  in  the 
temple,  their  synagogues,  and  their  private  dwellings, 
was  celebrated  with  sacred  hymns  to  God.  Christ  him- 
self, in  his  final  interview  with  his  disciples  before  his 
crucifixion,  sung  with  them  the  customary  paschal  songs 
at  the  institution  of  the  Supper,  and  by  his  example 
sanctified  the  use  of  sacred  songs  in  the  Christian  Church. 
In  the  opinion  of  the  most  eminent  writers,  the  gift  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  on  the  day  of  Pentecost  was  accom- 
panied by  poetic  inspiration,  to  which  the  disciples  gave 
utterance  in  spiritual  songs.  Paul  and  Silas,  lacerated 
by  the  cruel  scourging  which  they  had  received,  and  in 
close  confinement  in  "  the  inner  prison,"  prayed  and 
sang  praises  to  God  at  midnight.  The  use  of  "  psalms, 
and  hymns,  and  spiritual  songs"  was  enjoined  upon  the 
churches  at  Colosse  and  Ephesus.  Many  evidences  are 
furnished  us,  too,  that  in  private,  as  well  as  in  public, 
the  first  Christians  were  warmly  attached  to  singing 
the  praises  of  God. 

Indeed,  it  appears  that  this  practice  of  uniting  to 
sing  the  high  praises  of  Christ  was  one  of  the  charges 
brought  against  the  first  Christians  by  their  enemies. 


-4  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

Eience  Pliny  wrote  in  the  commencement  of  the  second 
century  to  Trajan,  the  Roman  emperor,  that  they  wore 
accustomed  to  meet  before  day,  to  offer  praise  to  Christ 
as  a  God;  and  Justin  Martyr  mentions  the  songs  and 
hymns  of  the  Ephesian  Christians: — "We  manifest  our 
gratitude  to  him  by  worshipping  him  in  spiritual  songs 
and  hymns,  praising  him  for  our  birth,  for  our  health, 
for  the  vicissitudes  of  the  seasons,  and  for  the  hopes  of 
immortality."  Xot  very  long  after  this,  we  have  a  clear 
intimation  of  the  existence  of  a  hymn-book. 

The  great  topic  of  the  ancient  psalms  and  hymns  was 
Christ,  the  only-begotten  of  the  Father.  The  doctrine 
was  set  forth  of  his  being  the  incarnate  Word  of  God, 
God  and  man.  His  mediatorial  character  was  the  joy 
of  the  primitive  churches,  and  this  sacred  theme  in- 
spired their  earliest  anthems.  The  manner  of  their  sing- 
ing must  have  been  very  simple,  consisting  of  a  few 
easy  airs,  which  could  be  readily  learned  and  by  fre- 
quent repetition  become  familiar  to  all.  Ambrose 
that  the  injunction  of  the  apostle,  forbidding  women 
to  speak  in  public,  relates  not  to  singing,  "  for  this  is 
delightful  in  every  age  and  suited  to  every  sex;"  and 
Chrysostom  says,  "  It  was  the  ancient  custom,  as  it  still 
is  with  us,  for  all  to  come  together  and  unitedly  to  join 
in  singing.  The  young  and  the  old,  rich  and  poor,  male 
and  female,  bond  and  free,  all  join  in  one  song.  .  .  .  All 
worldly  distractions  here  cease,  and  the  whole  congre- 
gation form  one  general  chorus." 

We  may  add  a  few  lines  more  on  this  interesting  topic. 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  25 

Several  of  the  Fathers  sought  to  edify  their  flocks  by 
supplying  them  with  devotional  poetry;  and  instances 
are  referred  to  by  Eusebius  in  his  "Ecclesiastical  History" 
of  private  individuals  composing  hymns.  Speaking  of 
the  mode  of  administering  the  Lord's  Supper,  Tertullian 
remarks,  in  his  "Apology"  "After  the  water  is  brought 
for  the  hands,  and  lights,  we  are  invited  to  sing  to  God, 
according  as  each  one  can  propose  a  subject  from  the 
Holy  Scriptures  or  of  his  own  composing."  Hilary  of 
Poictiers,  in  the  fourth  century,  presented  his  church 
with  a  collection  of  hymns;  and  the  Milanese  Christians, 
about  the  same  period,  were  accustomed  to  assemble  at 
night,  to  chant  those  composed  by  Ambrose,  their  bishop. 
This  practice  began  in  Milan  about  the  time  the  empe- 
ror persecuted  Ambrose.  The  pious  peojilc  watched  in 
the  church,  prepared  to  die  with  the  pastor.  Augustine 
says,  "  There  my  mother  sustained  an  eminent  part  in 
watching  and  praying.  Then  hymns  and  psalms,  after 
the  manner  of  the  East,  were  sung,  with  the  view  of 
preserving  the  people  from  weariness ;  and  thence  the 
custom  has  spread  through  Christian  churches."  When 
Chrysostom  occupied  the  episcopal  throne  of  Constan- 
tinople, the  Arians  were  accustomed  to  parade  the 
streets  of  the  city,  singing  hymns  strongly  tinctured 
with  the  peculiarities  of  their  creed ;  on  which  the 
bishop,  fearing  the  propagation  of  the  heresy,  furnished 
his  choristers  with  some  of  his  own  compositions  in 
accordance  with  the  opinions  of  the  orthodox. 

Assuredly  this  holy  duty  of  singing  was  not  confined 


26  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

io  their  public  assemblies.  Jerome  says,  "  Go  where 
you  will,  the  ploughman  at  his  plough  sings  his  joyful 
hallelujahs,  the  busy  mower  regales  himself  with  his 
psalms,  and  the  vine-dresser  is  singing  one  of  the  songs 
of  David."  Fearless  of  reproach,  of  persecution,  and 
of  death,  they  continued,  in  the  face  of  their  enemies,  to 
sing  their  sacred  songs  in  the  streets  and  market-places, 
and  at  the  martyr's  stake.  Eusebius  declares  himself 
an  eye-witness  to  the  fact  that,  under  their  persecutions 
in  Thebais,  athey  continued  to  their  latest  breath  to 
sing  psalms  and  hymns,  and  thanksgivings  to  the  God 
of  heaven."  Speaking  of  the  earliest  hymns  of  the 
Latin  Church,  Herder  asks,  "  Who  can  deny  their  power 
and  influence  over  the  soul  ?  They  go  with  the  solitary 
into  his  cell,  and  attend  the  afflicted  in  distress,  in  want, 
and  to  the  grave.  While  singing  these,  one  forgets  his 
toil,  and  his  fainting,  sorrowful  spirit  soars  in  hea- 
venly joys  to  another  world.  Back  to  earth  he  comes 
to  labor,  to  toil,  to  suffer  in  silence,  and  to  conquer. 
How  rich  the  boon,  how  great  the  power,  of  these 
hymns  !" 

Nor  ought  we  to  forget  here  the  account  which  Au- 
gustine gives  us  of  the  power  of  this  holy  music  over 
his  heart  on  occasion  of  his  baptism.  He  says,  "  Oh, 
how  freely  was  I  made  to  weep  by  these  hymns  and 
spiritual  songs,  transported  by  the  voices  of  the  congre- 
gation sweetly  singing!  The  melody  of  their  voices 
filled  my  ear,  and  divine  truth  was  poured  into  my 
heart.     Then  burned  the  sacred  flame  of  devotion  in 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  27 

my  soul,  and  gushing  tears  flowed  from  my  eyes, — as 
well  they  might." 

We  may  remark,  here,  that  as  early  as  the  fourth 
century  the  appointment  of  singers  as  a  distinct  class 
crept  into  the  Church,  and  other  evils  also,  which  soon 
tended  to  impair  the  purity  and  lessen  the  enjoyments 
of  Christian  worshippers. 

Time  has  been,  even  in  England,  when  singing  the 
high  praises  of  God  was  deemed  a  fit  employment  in  a 
palace.  As  long  ago  as  1087,  William  the  Conqueror 
lay  on  his  death-bed.  His  closing  hours  formed  a  night 
of  half  sleep,  half  stupor,  the  struggling  expiring  body 
taking  a  dull,  painful,  unrestful  rest  before  its  last  long 
earthly  repose;  but  as  the  sun  was  just  rising  above 
the  horizon,  shedding  brightness  on  the  Avails  of  the 
apartment,  William  was  aroused  by  the  tolling  of  the 
great  cathedral  bell,  and  inquired  what  the  sound  meant. 
"  It  is  the  hour  of  praise,"  was  the  answer  of  his  attend- 
ants. Then  were  the  priesthood  in  full  choir  welcoming 
with  voices  of  gladness  the  renewed  gift  of  another  day, 
in  the  words  common  to  all  the  Western  liturgies,  begin- 
ning,— 

"Jam  lucis  or  to  Sidere," 

a  translation  of  the  whole  of  which  will  be  acceptable 
to  our  readers  : — 

"Now  that  the  sun  is  gleaming  bright, 
Implore  we,  bending  low, 
That  He,  the  uncreated  Light, 
May  guide  us  as  we  go. 


28  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

"No  sinful  word,  or  deed  of  wrong, 
Nor  thoughts  that  idly  rove, 
But  simple  truth,  be  on  our  tongue, 
And  in  our  hearts  be  love. 

"  And  while  the  hours  in  order  flow, 
0  Christ,  securely  fence 
Our  gates  beleaguered  by  the  foe, 
The  gate  of  every  sense, 

"  And  grant  that  to  thine  honor,  Lord, 
Our  daily  toil  may  tend  ; 
That  we  begin  it  at  thy  word, 
And  in  thy  favor  end." 

But  the  day  of  labor  and  struggle,  sin  and  repent- 
ance, was  already  past;  and  before  the  close  of  the 
hymn  William  lifted  up  his  hands  in  prayer  and  ex- 
pired. 

In  one  congregation  alone  in  England  is  this  beau- 
tiful Latin  hymn  now  sung.  "When  the  scholars  of  Win- 
chester College  annually  separate  for  the  Whitsun  vaca- 
tion, they  sing  it  in  the  original  Latin.  Surely  it  ought, 
at  least  in  the  translation,  to  be  far  better  known  j  and, 
so  thinking,  we  have  ventured  so  far  to  depart  from  the 
general  plan  of  our  volume  as  to  extend  its  knowledge 
as  far  as  we  can. 

As  we  are  speaking  of  the  customs  of  England  in 
reference  to  the  old  Latin  hymns,  we  may  here  say  that 
to  the  present  day  the  choristers  and  lay  clerks  of  Mag- 
dalene College,  Oxford,  annually  ascend  the  outside  of 
the  top  of  the  tower  of  the  building  at  five  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  the  first  of  May,  where  they  sing  the 
Te  Deum  before  a  vast  crowd  of  spectators. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  29 

It  has  been  well  said  that  in  many  cases  the  ancient 
hymns  were  the  ouly  conservatives  of  gospel  truth  when 
heterodoxy  grew  and  flourished  beneath  papal  influence. 
They  were  themselves  too  pure  to  be  defiled  by  Romish 
contaminations;  and  although  hymn  after  hymn  was 
added  to  swell  the  aggregate  by  those  whose  faith  suc- 
cumbed to  their  superstition,  yet  these  have  come  down 
to  us  in  all  their  first  purity.  So  far  from  rejecting 
them,  we  ought  rather  to  love  them  the  more,  because 
they  flowed  wTith  clear  and  living  stream  through  the 
barren  wastes  of  error,  until  at  length  popery  gathered 
up  her  strength  in  a  useless  effort  to  taint  them.  As  the 
Romish  Church  added  dogma  after  dogma  to  her  creed, 
the  lustre  faded  from  her  hymnal,  until  at  last  all  that 
her  votaries  could  produce  were  fulsome  laudations  of 
the  saints  and  idolatrous  invocations  of  Mary.  But  the 
two  classes  of  hymns  must  ever  be  kept  distinct :  it  is 
easy  at  once  to  perceive  the  difference  between  the  ut- 
terance of  a  Christian  soul  and  the  panegyrics-  of  false 
dogmas  and  imagined  demigods. 

We  are  told  that  Augustine  was  sorely  perplexed 
by  his  love  of  music,  fearing  to  indulge  in  ornamental 
psalmody  for  its  own  sake,  yet  conscious  that  his  devo- 
tional feelings  had  often  been  powerfully  excited  by  the 
influence  of  religious  song.  He  says,  "When  I  re- 
member the  tears  I  shed  at  the  psalmody  of  the  Church, 
in  the  beginning  of  my  recovered  faith,  and  how  at  this 
time  I  am  moved,  not  with  the  singing,  but  with  the 
things  sung,  when  they  are  sung  with  a  clear  voice  and 


30  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

modulation  most  suitable,  I  acknowledge  the  great  use 
of  this  institution.  Thus  I  fluctuate  between  peril  of 
pleasure  and  approved  wholesomeness, — inclined  the  ra- 
ther, though  not  as  pronouncing  an  irrevocable  opinion, 
to  approve  of  the  use  of  singing  in  the  church,  that  so 
by  the  delight  of  the  ears  the  weaker  minds  may  rise  to 
the  feelings  of  devotion.'' 

During  the  disastrous  period  emphatically  termed  "the 
dark  ages,"  wThen  ignorance  and  superstition  almost 
universally  prevailed  in  the  west  of  Europe,  singing  the 
praises  of  God  was  a  part  of  divine  worship  from  which 
the  people  were  debarred.  Not  only  were  the  words 
sung  in  a  language  unknown  to  the  great  body  of  the 
people,  but  the  music  was  so  complex  that  none  could 
bear  a  part  in  it  unless  they  had  studied  it  scientifically. 

But  when  the  Reformation  dawned,  it  Avas  no  difficult 
task  to  induce  the  people  of  England  to  prefer  plain 
psalmody,  in  which  they  could  easily  join,  to  the  intri- 
cate music  which  was  too  refined  and  scientific  for  their 
comprehension;  and  congregational  singing  gradually 
found  its  way  into  the  parish  churches,  in  pursuance  of 
a  statute  of  Edward  VI.,  "  to  use  openly  any  psalm  or 
prayer  taken  out  of  the  Bible,  at  any  due  time,  not  let- 
ting or  omitting  thereby  the  service,  or  any  part  thereof." 
It  is  certain  that  gradually  full  permission  or  connivance 
introduced  metrical  psalmody  into  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land ;  for  Strype  states  that  in  the  month  of  September, 
1559,  "  began  the  new  morning  prayer  at  St.  Antholin's, 
London,  the  bell  beginning  to  ring  at  five,  when  a  psalm 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  31 

was  sung  after  the  Geneva  fashion,  all  the  congregation, 
men,  women,  and  boys,  singing  together." 

The  late  Josiah  Condor,  in  his  admirable  "  View  of  all 
Religions,"  testifies  to  the  great  influence  of  congrega- 
tional singing  in  England  at  an  early  period  of  the  Re- 
formation.  Bishop  Jewel  says,  "  A  change  now  appears 
visible  among  the  people,  which  nothing  promotes  more 
than  inviting  them  to  sing  psalms.  This  was  begun  in 
one  church  in  London,  and  did  quickly  spread  itself,  not 
only  through  the  city,  but  in  neighboring  places.  Some- 
times at  Paul's  Cross  there  will  be  six  thousand  singing 
together."  By  the  Act  of  Uniformity,  passed  in  1548, 
the  practice  of  using  any  psalm  openly  "  in  churches, 
chapels,  oratorios,  and  other  places"  was  authorized. 
At  length,  after  being  popular  for  a  while  in  France  and 
Germany,  among  both  Roman  Catholics  and  Protestants, 
as  psalmody  came  to  be  discountenanced  by  the  former 
as  an  open  declaration  of  Lutheranism,  so  in  England 
psalm-singing  was  soon  abandoned  to  the  Puritans,  and 
became  almost  a  peculiarity  of  Nonconformity. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  YIIL,  the  Common  Prayer 
Book,  and  the  singing  of  psalms  as  found  in  the  Bible, 
were  generally  used  as  a  test  for  all  to  sing  who  loved 
the  Reformation ;  and  in  the  Confession  of  the  Puritans, 
published  in  1571,  they  say,  "  We  allow  the  people  to 
join  in  one  voice  in  a  psalm-tune,  but  not  in  tossing  the 
psalm  from  one  side  to  the  other,  with  intermingling  of 
organs." 

We  cannot  forbear  to  remark  here  that  some  of  the 


88  HISTORICAL    SKETCH  KS. 

best  hymns  were  composed  in  "  the  dark  ages."  They 
were,  as  Professor  Edwards  says,  "sombre  and  monoto- 
nous, but  simple  and  sublime,  and  never  to  fade  till  that 
last  day  which  they  so  often  celebrate."  As  he  else- 
where says,  "  The  study  of  centuries  only  corroborates 
the  universal  voice.  The  reason  of  this  is  perfectly 
obvious.  The  road  is  not  beaten.  There  is  a  dewy 
freshness  on  them,  such  as  Adam  saw  in  Eden.  The 
artist  can  work  unrestrained  by  artificial  rules." 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  Baptists,  after  the  Beforma- 
tion,  were  very  generally  opposed  to  singing  in  their 
congregations.  They  had  seen  so  many  evils  encou- 
raged by  those  who  practised  it,  that  they  persuaded 
themselves  it  was  but  a  human  ordinance.  The  Eev. 
Benjamin  Keach,  in  1691,  published  "  The  Breach  Re- 
paired in  God's  Worship  ;  or,  Psalms  and  Hymns  proved  to 
be  a  Holy  Ordinance  of  Jesus  Christ."  He  first  labored 
earnestly,  with  great  prudence,  to  prevail  on  his  people 
to  sing  at  the  close  of  the  Lord's  Supper;  he  then,  six 
years  afterward,  persuaded  them  to  sing  on  thanks- 
giving-days, and,  at  the  end  of  fourteen  years,  to  sing  in 
each  service  at  the  close  of  the  last  prayer,  that  so  those 
who  objected  to  it  might  retire.  In  all  this  he  was 
strenuously  opposed  by  Mr.  Isaac  Marlowe,  who  desig- 
nated the  practice  as  "  error,  apostasy,  human  tradition, 
pre-limited  forms,  mischievous  error,  and  carnal  wor- 
ship." In  1692  the  General  Assembly  urged  both  parties 
to  cease  from  their  disputes,  and  their  recommendation 
tended  to  peace.     Still,  however,  there  was  difficulty; 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  33 

and  ultimately  a  division  took  place,  and  the  scccders 
organized  a  new  church  in  Maze  Pond,  Southwark, 
u  where  it  was  twenty  years  longer  before  singing  the 
praises  of  God  could  be  endured."  At  length,  the  con- 
gregations, being  left  to  their  own  calm  reflection,  gra- 
dually introduced  psalmody  into  their  worship. 

While  popery  never  favored  congregational  singing, 
and  among  themselves  Jesuits  were  never  heard  to  chant 
the  praise  of  Immanuel,  the  Eeformers  at  once  saw  its 
influence  on  the  great  work  before  them.  Calvin  in- 
troduced into  his  congregation  at  Geneva  the  elegant 
version  of  the  Psalms  into  French  rhyme  which  had 
been  made  by  Clement  Marot,  valet  of  the  bedchamber 
to  Francis  I.  This  man,  having  happily  become  tired  of 
the  vanities  of  profane  poetry,  and  anxious  to  raise  the 
tone  of  public  taste  and  feeling,  aided  by  Theodore  Beza 
and  encouraged  by  the  Professor  of  Hebrew  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Paris,  published  the  Psalms  in  metre ;  and,  as 
the  translation  did  not  aim  at  any  innovation  in  public 
worship,  it  received  the  sanction  of  the  Sorbonne.  This 
version  soon  eclipsed  the  madrigals  and  sonnets  of  its 
author;  and  suddenly,  in  the  festive  and  splendid  court 
of  Francis  I.,  nothing  was  heard  but  the  psalms  of 
Clement  Marot,  the  royal  family  and  principal  nobility 
choosing  and  adapting  them  to  popular  ballad-tunes. 

Under  the  direction  of  Calvin,  these  compositions  were 
adapted  to  plain  and  easy  melodies,  and  became  a  cha- 
racteristic of  the  newly-established  worship.  Germany 
next  caught  the  sacred  ardor,  and  the  choral  mode  of 


34  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

service  yielded  to  the  attractive  and  popular  character 
of  a  devotional  melody  in  which  all  might  join  without 
distinction  of  rank  or  character. 

Especially  was  the  practice  of  congregational  singing 
greatly  revived,  and  became  almost  universal,  in  Ger- 
many, where,  emphatically,  the  people  are  all  singers. 
From  that  time  to  the  present  it  has  been  rarely  the 
fact  that  any  one  is  found  in  a  German  church  who  does 
not  sing.  They  abound  in  hymn  and  tune  books ;  and 
even  to  this  hour,  as  we  learn  from  Dr.  Lyman  Coleman, 
an  eye-witness,  one-half  of  the  time  occupied  in  public 
worship  is  taken  up  in  singing. 

Martin  Luther  well  understood  this  method  of  propa- 
gating truth  and  refuting  error,  and  employed  it  with  a 
skilful  hand.  His  own  poetical  talents  and  love  of  music 
were  very  great.  He  learned  the  science  with  the  first 
rudiments  of  his  native  language ;  and  when,  as  a  wan- 
dering minstrel,  he  earned  his  daily  bread  by  exercising 
his  musical  powers  in  singing  before  the  doors  of  the 
rich  in  the  streets  of  Magdeburg  and  Eisenach,  he  was 
as  truly  preparing  for  the  future  reformer  as  when,  a 
retired  monk  in  the  cloister  of  Erfurt,  he  was  storing 
his  mind  with  the  truths  of  revelation,  with  which  to 
refute  the  errors  of  popery.  One  of  his  earliest  efforts 
at  reform  was  the  publication  of  a  psalm-book,  in  1524, 
composed  and  set  to  music  chiefly  by  himself.  One  of 
his  earliest  hymns  was  consecrated  to  the  memory  of  the 
martyrs  of  Brussels ;  and  the  whole  Eeformed  Church 
felt  the  mighty  influence  of  his  song.     A  few  sentences 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  35 

Which  Luther  wrote  when  he  versified  some  of  the 
Psalms  and  appended  them  to  a  collection  of  hymns 
which  he  published  in  1524,  all  of  which  were  set  to 
music  in  four  parts,  cannot  be  unacceptable.  He  tells 
us  this  had  been  done  "  for  no  other  reason  than  because 
of  my  desire  that  the  young,  who  ought  to  be  educated 
in  music  as  well  as  in  other  good  arts,  might  have  some- 
thing to  take  the  place  of  worldly  and  amorous  songs, 
and  so  learn  something  useful  and  practise  something 
virtuous,  as  becometh  the  young.  I  would  be  glad  to 
see  all  arts,  and  especially  music,  employed  in  the  ser- 
vice of  Him  who  created  them." 

In  the  preparation  of  this  music,  Walther,  a  distin- 
guished musician  of  that  day,  lent  his  assistance.  He 
says,  "I  have  spent  many  a  happy  hour  in  singing 
with  him,  and  have  often  seen  the  dear  man  so  happy 
and  joyful  in  spirit  while  singing  that  he  could  neither 
tire  nor  be  satisfied.  He  conversed  splendidly  upon 
music.  He  also  composed  music  or  tunes  for  the 
Epistles  and  Gospels,  particularly  for  the  words  of 
Christ  at  the  institution  of  the  Supper,  and  sung  them 
to  me  and  asked  my  opinion  of  them.  He  kept  me 
three  weeks  writing  the  notes  for  a  few  Gospels  and 
Epistles,  till  the  first  German  mass  was  sung  in  the 
parish  church,  and  I  was  obliged  to  stay  and  hear  it 
and  take  a  copy  of  it  to  Torgua." 

In  the  writings  of  this  distinguished  Keformer  we 
find  several  good  paragraphs  on  music  and  singing, 
with  which  the  reader  will  be  happy  to  renew  his  ac- 


36  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

qnaintanoe.  He  says,  "Music  is  one  of  the  fairest  and 
most  glorious  gifts  of  God,  to  which  Satan  is  a  bitter 
enemy;  for  it  removes  from  the  heart  the  weight  of 
sorrows  and  the  fascination  of  evil  thoughts.  Music  is 
a  kind  and  gentle  sort  of  discipline ;  it  refines  the  pas- 
sions and  improves  the  understanding.  Even  the  disso- 
nance of  unskilful  fiddlers  serves  to  set  off  the  charms 
of  true  melody, — as  white  is  made  more  conspicuous  by 
the  opposition  of  black.  Those  who  love  music  are 
gentle  and  honest  in  their  temper.  I  always  loved 
music,  and  would  not,  for  a  great  matter,  be  without 
the  little  skill  which  I  possess  in  the  art. 

"  Music  is  one  of  the  best  arts :  the  notes  give  life  to 
the  text :  it  expels  melancholy,  as  we  sec  in  king  Saul. 
Kings  and  princes  ought  to  maintain  music,  for  great 
potentates  and  rulers  should  protect  good  and  liberal 
arts  and  laws :  though  private  people  have  desire  there- 
unto and  love  it,  yet  their  ability  is  not  adequate.  AVe 
read  in  the  Bible  that  the  good  and  godly  kings  main- 
tained and  paid  singers.  Music  is  the  best  solace  for  the 
sad  and  sorrowful  mind  :  by  it  the  heart  is  refreshed  and 
settled  again  in  peace.  We  must  teach  music  in  schools  : 
a  schoolmaster  ought  to  have  skill  in  music,  or  I  would 
not  regard  him.  Neither  should  we  ordain  }~oung  men 
as  preachers  unless  they  be  well  exercised  in  music. 
Singers  are  merry  and  free  from  sorrows  and  cares." 

None  of  our  readers  will  be  displeased  with  a  glance  at 
the  public  singing  in  England  in  the  year  1644.  At  that 
time,  when  the  Eoyalists  and  the  Eoundheads  were  in 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  37 

incessant  collision,  both  as  to  political  and  religious  mat- 
ters, and  when  no  small  contest  was  carried  on  between 
choirs  and  organs  on  the  one  hand  and  plain  congrega- 
tional singing  on  the  other,  Master  Mace,  in  his  "  Music's 
Monument"  describes,  in  the  rapturous  language  we  now 
transcribe,  the  singular  compromise  between  the  parties 
at  York  Minster: — "The  psalm-singing  was  the  most 
excellent  that  has  been  known  or  remembered  any- 
where in  these  latter  days.  Most  certain  I  am  that  to 
myself  it  was  the  very  best  harmonical  music  that  ever 
I  heard, — yea,  excelling  all  other,  either  private  or  public, 
cathedral  music,  and  infinitely  beyond  all  verbal  expres- 
sion or  conceiving.  Now,  here  you  must  take  notice 
that  they  had  there  a  custom  in  that  church  which  I 
hear  not  of  in  any  other  cathedral,  which  was  this : 
always  before  sermon  the  whole  congregation  sung  a 
psalm  together  with  the  choir  and  the  organ.  You  must 
also  know  that  there  was  then  there  a  most  excellent, 
large,  plump,  lusty,  full-speaking  organ,  which  cost,  as  I 
am  credibly  informed,  a  thousand  pounds.  This  organ, 
I  say,  when  the  psalm  was  set,  before  the  sermon,  being 
let  out  unto  all  its  fulness  of  stops,  together  with  the 
choir,  began  the  psalm.  Now,  when  the  vast  concord 
and  unity  of  the  whole  congregational  choir  came,  as  I 
may  say,  thundering  on,  even  so  as  to  make  the  very 
ground  shake  under  us, — ah  !  the  unutterable  ravishing 
soul's  delight ! — I  was  so  transported  and  rapt  up  with 
high  contemplation,  that  there  was  no  room  left  in  my 
body  and  spirit  for  any  thing  below  divine  and  heavenly 


38  HISTORICAL    SKETCH KS\ 

raptures.  The  abundance  of  people  of  all  ranks,  beside 
the  soldiers,  crowded  the  church.  Oh,  how  unutterably 
ravishing,  soul-delighting !" 

Delightfully  are  we  reminded,  by  this  description,  of 
the  animated  language  of  the  holy  Baxter : — "  Methinks, 
when  we  are  singing  or  speaking  God's  praise  in  the 
great  assemblies,  with  joyful  and  fervent  souls,  I  have 
the  liveliest  foretaste  of  heaven  on  earth.  I  could  almost 
wish  that  our  voices  were  loud  enough  to  reach  through 
all  the  world,  and  unto  heaven  itself;  nor  could  I  ever 
be  offended,  as  many  are,  at  the  organs  and  other  con- 
venient music,  soberly  and  seasonably  used,  which  ex- 
cite and  help  to  tune  my  soul  in  so  holy  a  work,  in 
which  no  true  assistance  is  to  be  despised." 

We  joyfully  come  now  to  our  own  happy  land ;  and 
though  it  was  long  before  our  fathers  made  much  pro- 
gress in  the  science  either  of  singing  or  of  hymn-writing, 
we  are  glad  to  see  them  cultivating  the  spirit  of  praise. 
As  Gould  says,  "  Here  let  us  pause  for  a  moment  and 
imagine  ourselves  spectators  of  the  scene  when  our  fore- 
fathers mounted  the  Plymouth  Eock,  and  listening  to 
the  first  song  of  praise  to  Almighty  God  proceeding 
from  strong  lungs  and  pure  hearts.  There  they  stood, 
and,  with  the  women  and  children,  burst  forth,  and  with 
united  voices  rehearsed  some  tune  and  words  that  they 
perhaps  had  before  prepared  and  had  been  anxiously 
waiting  and  longing  for  an  appropriate  time  to  sing. 
That  time  had  come  j  and  think  you  there  would  not 
have  been  a  difference  between  the  effect  of  their  sing- 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  39 

ing  and  that  which  we  so  often  hear,  '  where  not  the 
heart  is  found'  ? " 

As  we  have  already  seen,  before  the  Pilgrim  Fathers 
came  to  this  country  there  had  been  in  England,  espe- 
cially among  the  Baptists,  much  controversy  on  the  sub- 
ject of  singing,  and  not  a  few  churches  divided  on  the 
subject  of  its  introduction.  We  believe,  however,  that, 
whatever  differences  existed  in  this  country  on  the 
matters  of  singing  by  notes,  "  lining  out  the  hymns," 
or  instrumental  music,  all  approved  of  singing  itself, 
and  pretty  generally  acted  on  the  exhortation  of  Wil- 
liam Billing : — 

"Ob,  praise  the  Lord  with  one  consent, 
And  in  this  grand  design 
Let  Britain  and  the  Colonies 
Unanimously  join." 

The  Eev.  Mr.  Symmes,  speaking  of  the  first  settlers 
of  New  England,  tells  us  that  from  the  first  founding 
of  the  first  college  singing  was  a  regular  study,  and 
adds,  "  There  are  many  persons  of  credit  now  living, 
children  and  grandchildren  of  the  first  settlers,  who 
can  very  well  remember  that  their  ancestors  sung  by 
note,  and  they  learned  so  to  sing  of  them."  Dr.  Cotton 
Mather,  in  his  "  Church  Discipline,''  tells  us  that,  before 
1720,  "  The  former  and  larger  prayer  of  the  pastor 
being  finished,  a  psalm  usually  succeeds.  In  some 
[places],  the  assembly  being  furnished  with  psalm- 
books,  they  sing  without  the  stop  of  reading  between 
every  line.     But  ordinarily  the  psalm  is  read  line  after 


40  HISTORICAL   SKKTCHK- 

line  by  him  whom  the  pastor  desires  to  do  that  service ; 
and  the  people  generally  sing  in  such  grave  tunes  as 
are  most  usual  in  the  churches  of  our  nation." 

After  a  while,  as  every  one  knows,  the  Colonies  began 
to  be  disturbed  by  contention  and  party  strife;  religious 
errors  also  crept  in;  and  the  few  music-books  which 
had  been  imported  were  rapidly  decreasing:  so  that  at 
the  commencement  of  the  eighteenth  century  scarcely 
any  of  the  congregations  could  sing  more  than  three  or 
four  tunes.  The  knowledge  and  use  of  notes  had  be- 
come neglected,  until  no  two  persons  sung  them  alike. 
Every  melody  was  "tortured  and  twisted  as  every  un- 
skilful throat  saw  fit."  The  Eev.  Mr.  Walker  says  of 
their  singing,  that  it  sounded  "  like  five  hundred  dif- 
ferent tunes  roared  out  at  the  same  time,  so  hideously 
and  disorderly  as  is  bad  beyond  expression.  I  myself 
have  twice  in  one  note  paused  to  take  breath."  Mr. 
Symmes  further  testifies,  "  It  is  with  great  difficulty 
that  this  part  of  worship  is  performed,  and  with  great 
indecency  in  some  congregations,  for  want  of  skill.  It 
is  to  be  feared  singing  must  be  wholly  omitted  in  some 
places,  for  want  of  skill,  if  this  art  is  not  revived." 

JReform,  however,  was  on  the  way,  though  attended 
in  the  outset  with  no  small  confusion.  September  16, 
1723,  the  "New  England  Couranf*  contained  this  para- 
graph : — "  Last  week  a  council  of  churches  was  held  at 
the  south  part  of  Braintree,  to  regulate  the  disorders 
occasioned  by  regular  singing  in  that  place, — Mr.  Xiles, 
the  minister,  having  suspended  seven  or  eight  of  the 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  41 

church  for  persisting  in  their  singing  by  rule,  contrary, 
as  he  apprehended,  to  the  result  of  a  former  council  j 
but  the  suspended  brethren  are  restored  to  communion, 
their  suspension  declared  unjust,  and  the  congregation 
ordered  to  sing  by  note  and  by  rule,  alternately,  for  the 
satisfaction  of  both  parties." 

December  9,  1723. — "  We  have  advice  from  the  south 
part  of  Braintree,  that  on  Sunday,  the  first  instant,  Mr. 
Niles,  the  minister  of  that  place,  performed  the  duties 
of  the  day  at  his  dwelling-house,  among  those  of  the 
congregation  who  are  opposers  of  regular  singing.  The 
regular  singers  met  together  at  the  meeting-house,  and 
sent  for  Mr.  Niles,  who  refused  to  come  unless  they 
would  first  promise  not  to  sing  regularly;  whereupon 
they  concluded  to  edify  themselves  by  the  assistance  of 
one  of  the  deacons,  who,  at  their  desire,  prayed  with 
them,  read  a  sermon,  etc." 

About  1720,  singing  by  note  was  introduced  into  Bos- 
ton, in  Dr.  Coleman's  meeting-house,  and  singing-schools 
were  introduced,  both  there  and  in  other  parts  of  Xew 
England.  The  most  influential  of  the  clergy  encouraged 
the  cultivation  of  music ;  and  the  study  of  it,  during  the 
controversy,  revived  in  the  college.  In  1745,  the  first 
organ  was  built  in  this  country,  by  Edward  Bromfield, 
Jr.,  of  Boston ;  and  though  this  instrument  was  greatly 
opposed,  it  soon  made  its  way.  Choirs  soon  followed, 
and  the  "  Records  of  the  Church  at  Topsfteld,"  the  "  His- 
tory of  Ipswich/'  and  other  documents,  show  the  ani- 
mated character  of  this  controversy.     Two  short  para- 

4* 


42  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

graphs  from  the  "History  of  Worcester"  will  give  the 
reader  a  fair  specimen  of  the  proceedings  of  those 
days : — 

"  The  final  blow  was  struck  to  the  old  system  by  the 
resolution  of  the  town,  August  5th,  1779  : — '  Voted,  that 
the  singers  sit  in  the  front  seats  of  the  front  gallery,  and 
that  those  gentlemen  who  have  hitherto  sat  in  the  front 
seats  of  said  gallery  have  a  right  to  sit  in  the  front  and 
second  seat  below,  and  that  said  singers  have  said  seats 
appropriated  to  said  use.  Voted,  that  said  singers  be 
requested  to  take  said  seats,  and  carry  on  the  singing  in 
public  worship.'  The  Sabbath  succeeding  the  adoption 
of  these  votes,  after  the  hymn  had  been  read  by  the 
minister,  the  aged  and  venerable  Deacon  Chamberlain, 
unwilling  to  desert  the  custom  of  his  fathers,  rose  and 
read  the  first  line,  according  to  the  usual  practice.  The 
singers,  prepared  to  carry  the  alteration  into  effect,  pro- 
ceeded without  pausing  at  the  conclusion.  The  white- 
haired  officer  of  the  church,  with  the  full  power  of  his 
voice,  read  on,  until  the  louder  notes  of  the  collected 
body  overpowered  the  attempt  to  resist  the  progress  of 
improvement,  and  the  deacon,  deeply  mortified  at  the 
triumph  of  musical  reformation,  took  his  hat  and  retired 
from  the  meeting-house  in  tears.  His  conduct  was  cen- 
sured by  the  church,  and  he  was  for  a  time  deprived  of 
its  communion,  for  absenting  himself  from  the  public 
services  of  the  Sabbath." 

This  was  by  no  means  the  only  instance  in  which  an 
offended  deacon  showed  his  displeasure.     Another  Mas- 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  43 

sachusetts  brother  in  office,  determined  to  take  revenge 
on  a  choir  who  had  led  off  the  singing  without  giving 
him  time  to  read,  patiently  waited  till  they  had  con- 
cluded, and  then,  gravely  putting  on  his  spectacles, 
opened  his  book  and  said,  "Now  let  the  people  of  God 
sing  f  and,  from  respect  and  pity  for  the  good  old  man, 
they  joined  with  him  in  his  psalm.  Nay,  even  ministers 
did  not  formerly  restrain  their  feelings  on  the  subject. 
When  Dr.  Joseph  Bellamy  once  heard  his  choir  sing  in 
sad  style,  he  read  another  psalm,  and  said,  "  You  must 
try  again;  for  it  is  impossible  to  preach  after  such 
singing." 

Some  of  our  young  readers  will  be  pleased  to  have 
before  them  a  few  lines  more  as  to  the  manner  and 
trouble  of  forming  choirs,  and  the  way  of  choosing  a 
leading  singer.  We  give,  therefore,  a  few  extracts  from 
the  "  History  of  Rowley :" — 

1762. — "The  parish  voted  that  those  who  had  learned 
the  art  of  singing  may  have  liberty  to  sit  in  the  front 
gallery.  They  did  not  take  the  liberty  f  probably  be- 
cause they  would  not  sing  after  the  clerk's  reading. 

1780. — "  The  parish  requested  Jonathan  Chaplin,  Jr., 
and  Lieutenant  Spafford  to  assist  Deacon  Daniel  Spaf- 
ford  in  raising  the  tune  in  the  meeting-house." 

1785. — "  The  parish  desire  the  singers,  both  male  and 
female,  to  sit  in  the  gallery,  and  will  allow  them  to  sing 
once  on  each  Lord's  day  without  reading  by  the  deacon." 

About  1790,  the  lining  out  the  psalm  or  hymn  by  the 
deacons  was  whollv  discontinued. 


44  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

A  few  lines  from  the  "  Topsfield  Church  Records'  will 
confirm  the  general  views  of  the  subject : — 

"  1764,  June  5. — Voted  that  the  pastor  be  desired, 
Sabbath  preceding  the  next  lecture,  in  the  name  of  the 
church,  to  desire  the  congregation,  after  the  lecture 
is  over,  to  tarry  and  consult  with  the  church  about 
choosing  some  person  or  persons  to  set  the  psalm 
when  Captain  Averill  is  absent." 

"  1764,  March  13. — Mr.  Moses  Perkins  and  Mr.  Jacob 
Kimball  were,  by  the  brethren  of  the  church,  and  also 
by  the  congregation,  chosen  to  set  the  psalm. 

"  Yoted  that  the  said  Perkins  and  Kimball  sit  in  the 
elders'  seat." 

In  the  year  1756,  the  congregation  of  the  first  church 
in  Kittery,  Mass.,  who  had  the  Eev.  Benjamin  Stevens 
for  their  pastor,  "  voted  that  the  petitioners  for  a  sing- 
ing-pew have  liberty  to  sit  in  the  hind  seat  but  one,  and 
to  move  the  hind  seat  three  inches,  at  their  own  cost." 
This  was  probably  an  incipient  step  to  the  formation  of 
a  choir.  The  next  year  the  church  "voted  that  Tate 
and  Brady's  version  of  the  Psalms,  with  the  addition  of 
Scriptural  Hymns,  collected  from  Dr.  Watts,  etc.,  be  sung 
in  this  church." 

It  seems  that  human  nature  makes  similar  manifesta- 
tions of  pride  in  all  ages.  Dr.  Sprague,  in  his  admirable 
"Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit"  tells  us  that  on  one 
occasion  the  Eev.  Samuel  Moody,  a  well-known,  eccen- 
tric minister  in  Maine  in  the  first  half  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, had  a  lecture  in  a  private  house,  and  there  was  no 


HI8T0BI0AL   SKETCHES.  45 

one  present  competent  to  conduct  the  singing  except 
his  own  hired  man.  So  Mr.  Moody  called  on  John  to 
tunc  the  psalm  while  the  line  was  given  out  in  detail. 
John  obeyed;  and  after  they  had  got  through,  Mr. 
Moody  said  to  him,  "John,  you  never  shall  set  the 
p«*lm  again;  for  you  arc  ready  to  burst  with  pride." 

It  is  pleasant  to  turn  from  these  facts  to  observe  the 
influence  of  singing  in  the  great  revival  which  took 
place  in  our  land,  under  Edwards,  Whitefield,  and 
others,  from  1735  and  onw^ards.  Jonathan  Edwards 
will  not  be  accused  of  rashness  or  of  overcoloring  the 
facts  of  the  case  j  and  he  says,  "  Our  public  praises  were 
then  greatly  enlivened.  God  was  then  served  in  our 
psalmody,  in  some  measure,  in  the  beauty  of  holiness. 
It  has  been  observable  that  there  has  been  scarce  any 
part  of  divine  worship  wherein  good  men  among  us 
have  had  grace  so  drawn  forth  and  their  hearts  so  lifted 
up  in  the  ways  of  God,  as  in  singing  his  praises.  Our 
congregation  excelled  all  that  I  ever  knew  before  in  the 
external  part  of  the  duty, — the  men  generally  carrying 
well  and  regularly  three  parts  of  the  music,  and  the 
women  a  part  by  themselves;  but  now  they  were  evi- 
dently wont  to  sing  with  unusual  elevation  of  heart  and 
voice,  which  made  the  duty  pleasant  indeed." 

To  an  American  Christian  it  is  pleasant  to  know  that 
the  very  first  book  printed  here  was  a  portion  of  the  in- 
spired volume  "  done  into  metre."  The  first  press  was 
"  put  up"  at  Cambridge,  in  1639,  by  Stephen  Day.  His 
first  book  was  "  The  Psalms  in  Metre,  faithfully  translated, 


46  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

for  the  use,  edification,  and  comfort  of  the  saints,  in 
public  and  private,  especially  in  New  England,  printed  at 
Cambridge  in  1640."  The  version  was  made  by  Thomas 
Welde,  of  Roxbury,  Eichard  Mather,  of  Dorchester,  and 
John  Eliot,  the  Apostle  of  the  Indians.  Speaking  of 
their  work,  they  say,  "  We  have  respected  rather  a  plain 
translation,  than  to  smoothe  our  verses  with  the  sweet- 
ness of  any  paraphrase,  and  so  have  attended  to  con- 
science rather  than  elegance,  and  fidelity  rather  than 
poetry,  in  translating  Hebrew  words  into  English  lan- 
guage, and  David's  poetry  into  English  metre."  Bless- 
ings on  the  Pilgrim  Fathers,  that  we  find  on  their  re- 
cords, u  Stephen  Day,  being  the  first  that  set  up  print- 
ing, is  granted  three  hundred  acres  of  land,  where  it 
may  be  convenient  without  prejudice  to  any  town." 

We  are  told  that  when  Eliot  translated  the  Bible  into 
the  now  entirely-forgotten  Nipmuck  language,  which 
was  printed  at  Cambridge  in  1663,  the  whole  of  the 
type  being  set  up  by  an  Indian,  the  Psalms  were  "  done" 
into  that  form  of  verse  which  in  our  hymn-books  is 
called  "  common  metre ;"  and  nothing  could  be  more 
clumsy  and  uncouth  than  the  structure  of  the  rhymes. 
Even  Sternhold  and  Hopkins  may  be  read  with  ex- 
quisite pleasure  after  looking  over  a  few  stanzas  like 
the  following  from  the  nineteenth  Psalm  : — 

"1.  Kesuk  kukootumushteaumoo 
God  wussohsumoonk 
Mamahehekesuk  wumahtuhkon 
Wutanakausnonk. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  47 

"2.  Kohsekoeh  kesukodlash 
Kuttoo  w:i  a  nt  a  monk 
Kali  hodgckoe  nukonash 
Kcketokon  wahteauonk." 

A  somewhat  remarkable  book  was  issued  in  1718,  by 
Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  called  "Psalterium  Americanum :  the 
Book  of  Psalms  in  a  translation  exactly  conformed  unto 
the  original,  but  all  in  blank  verse,  fitted  unto  the  tunes 
commonly  used  in  our  churches.  Which  pure  offering  is 
accompanied  with  illustrations  of  digging  for  hidden 
treasures  in  it,  and  rules  to  employ  according  to  the 
glorious  and  various  intentions  of  it.  Whereunto  are 
added  some  portions  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  to  enrich 
the  Cantional.     Boston,  in  N.  E." 

In  this  singular  production,  which  is  a  close  transla- 
tion from  the  Hebrew,  Dr.  Mather  has  not  only  disre- 
garded the  modern  practice  of  breaking  the  lines,  whe- 
ther rhymed  or  not,  but  he  has  "run  out,"  to  use  a 
printer's  phrase,  the  whole  matter;  so  that,  while  each 
psalm  looks  exactly  like  prose,  and  may  be  read  as  such, 
it  is  in  fact  modulated  so  that  it  may  be  sung  as  lyric 
verse.  In  an  "  Admonition  concerning  the  Tunes,"  Dr. 
Mather  states  that  "  The  director  of  the  psalmody  need 
only  say,  '  Sing  with  the  black  letter,'  or,  (  Sing  without 
the  black  letter/  and  the  tune  will  be  sufficiently  di- 
rected." The  following  extract  from  the  twenty-third 
Psalm  will  give  the  reader  some  idea  of  this  extraor- 
dinary translation  : — 


48  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

"PSALM  XXIII. 

"A  Psalm  of  David. 
"1.  My  Shepherd  is  th'  eternal  God,  ||  I  shall 
not  be  in  [artp]  want  : 

"2.  In  pastures  of  a  tender  grass  ||  He  [thtt]  makes 

me  to  lie  down :  ||    To  waters  of  tranquillities  ||  He 
gently  carries  me  [alortfl]. 

"  3.   My  feeble  and  my  wandering  soul  ||  He  [kinlJlj] 

does  fetch  back  again  ;  ||  In  the  plain  paths  of 
righteousness  ||     He  does  lead  [anfc  jguiit]  me 
along :  ||  Because  of  the  regard  he  has  [tbtr] 
unto  His  glorious  Name."  || 

We  hope  to  be  forgiven  if  we  occupy  another  page  or 
two  with  matter  relating  to  books  of  hymns  and  tunes. 

The  first  book  containing  music  printed  in  America, 
as  we  learn  from  the  "American  Musical  Almanac"  for 
1852,  was  issued  in  1690.  It  was  a  versification  of  the 
Psalms,  with  a  collection  of  tunes,  in  two  parts  only,  at 
the  end.  In  1712,  another  work  was  issued,  entitled  "A 
very  plain  and  easy  Introduction  to  the  Art  of  Singing  Psalm 
Tunes ;  with  the  Cantas  or  Trebles  of  Twenty-Eight  Psalm 
Tunes,  contrived  in  such  a  manner  as  that  the  learner  may 
attain  the  skill  of  singing  them  with  the  greatest  ease  ima- 
ginable. By  the  Eev.  Mr.  John  Tufts.  Price,  Qd.  5s. 
the  doz."  In  1761,  a  work  called  "  Urania,  or  a  Choice 
Collection  of  Psalm  Tunes,  Anthems,  and  Hymns,  by  James 
Lyons,  A.M.,"  price,  15s.,  was  published  at  Philadelphia. 
Tradition  says  that  it  ruined  its  publisher, — which  we 
can  imagine  to  be  very  probable.  In  1770,  Mr.  William 
Billings  published  his  "New  England  Psalm-Singer,  or 
American  Chorister,"  containing  one  hundred  and  twenty 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  49 

tunes.  Iii  the  introduction  to  this  work  its  author  boldly 
declared  his  independence  of  all  the  rules  of  harmony, — 
a  declaration  which  he  fully  acted  out  in  this  and  all  his 
future  works.  We  may  add  here  that,  in  1754,  a  book- 
seller in  Philadelphia  advertised,  as  just  published,  "  The 
Youth's  Entertaining  Amusement;  or,  a  Plain  Guide  to 
Psalmody :  being  a  choice  Collection  of  Tunes  sung  in  tJie 
English  Protestant  Congregation  in  Philadelphia;  with 
Pules  for  Learning.  By  William  Dawson."  This  title, 
probably  unintentionally,  expresses  with  great  simpli- 
city a  fact, — that  young  persons,  and  many  of  their 
friends  too,  often  resort  to  the  practice  of  psalmody 
— which  should  be  a  holy  exercise — for  mere  amuse- 
ment. 

Let  not  the  young  author  who  is  conscious  of  the 
possession  of  talent  be  discouraged  by  difficulties  at  the 
outset  of  his  career,  but  go  on  till  he  achieves  success. 
This,  no  doubt,  would  be  the  counsel  of  the  eminent 
singer,  Dr.  Lowell  Mason:  at  all  events,  this  was  his 
own  early  conduct. 

In  early  life,  while  engaged  in  conducting  the  choir 
of  a  church  in  Savannah,  Georgia,  he  felt  the  want 
of  a  collection  of  church-music  even  tolerably  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  choirs,  and  was  thus  led  to  compile 
such  a  work  himself,  more  with  a  view  of  preparing 
a  book  for  his  own  choir  than  with  any  expectation 
of  producing  a  work  which  should  be  generally  used. 

Having  finished  his  manuscript,  our  young  author  ob- 
tained leave  of  absence  from  the  bank  in  which  he  was 


50  HISTORICAL    SKETCH] 

then  a  clerk,  and  directed  his  steps  northward  in  search 
of  a  publisher.  Arriving  at  Philadelphia,  he  ottered  to 
give  the  copyright  to  any  house  which  would  publish 
the  work  and  give  him  a  few  copies  for  his  own  use ;  but 
in  the  estimation  of  the  booksellers  and  music-mer- 
chants it  was  too  hazardous  an  enterprise  for  wise  men 
to  engage  in.  Failing  in  Philadelphia,  he  went  to  Boston, 
and  made  the  same  offer  to  the  publishers  of  that  city. 
But  the  shrewd  Yankee  publishers  laughed  at  him,  and 
intimated  that  their  forecast  and  prudence  were  not  to 
be  so  easily  thrown  off  their  balance. 

Finding  that  every  one  looked  at  his  book  so  coldly, 
our  young  author  put  his  manuscript  crotchets  and  qua- 
vers into  his  pocket,  and  was  about  returning  to  Savan- 
nah, when  he  accidentally  met  a  gentleman  of  consi- 
derable knowledge  of  music,  who  wished  to  examine  the 
volume.  Having  done  this,  he  expressed  his  satisfaction, 
and  asked  Mason  what  he  intended  to  do  with  it.  "  Take 
it  home  with  me,"  was  the  reply.  The  gentleman  pro- 
posed to  show  it  to  the  Handel  and  Haydn  Society,  who 
at  once  published  the  book,  giving  its  author  a  share  in 
the  copyright.  His  remarkable  success  as  a  teacher 
is  well  known. 

One  or  two  amusing  matters  may  here  be  added,  which 
may  at  least  provoke  a  harmless  smile. 

One  of  our  most  popular  monthly  periodicals  for  1853 
tells  us  that,  not  long  since,  the  chorister  of  a  choir  in 
Yermont  wrote  to  a  publisher  in  Boston  for  a  copy  of 
that  popular   singing-book,  "  The  Ancient  Lyre."     His 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  51 

communication  ran.  "  Please  send  mc  the  Ancient  Liar, 
well  bound."  The  publisher  replied,  "My  dear  Sir: — I 
do  not  doubt  that  the  devil  has  been  and  still  is  in 
Boston;  but  it  will  be  difficult  to  comply  with  your 
request,  for  the  reason  that  Boston  influence  is  so  strong 
in  his  favor,  it  will  be  impossible  to  bind  him." 

A  Boston  astrologer  long  ago  predicted  that  an  extra- 
ordinary literary  work  would  be  produced  in  Xew  Eng- 
land about  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Ac- 
cording to  "  Gleason's  Pictorial  Drawing-Room  Compa- 
nion" the  prediction  was  fulfilled  in  1853,  to  the  letter. 
A  Boston  publishing-house  "got  up"  a  Quaker  hymn- 
book,  having  heard  that  no  work  of  the  kind  existed. 
At  first  it  appeared  to  be  "  a  pretty  good  opening  •"  but 
one  unlucky  circumstance  was  soon  discovered :  the 
Quakers  never  sing. 

The  "  Bay-State  Collection  of  Sacred  Music"  includes  a 
tune  called  "  California"  with  the  words, — 
"My  soul  lies  cleaving  to  the  dust/' 

A  correspondent  of  the  "Newark  (X.J.)  Advertiser" 
writing  from  Bramfield,  Connecticut,  says,  "  By  the  way, 
a  good  story  may  be  told  of  our  chorister's  attempt  at 
improving  the  psalmody  as  well  as  the  music  of  our 
church.  He  set  some  music  of  his  own  to  the  ninety- 
second  Psalm  of  Watts,  in  which  occur  the  lines, — 

'  Oh,  may  my  heart  in  tune  be  found, 
Like  David's  harp  of  solemn  sound!' 

"  Calling  on  his  pastor,  he  asked  his  approbation  of  a 


52  QISTORICAL    HKETCHSfi 

new  version  (»i"  these  lines,  which  would  render  theiu 
more  readily  adapted  to  the  music  he  had  composed. 
He  suggested  that  they  should  read, — 

'Oh,  may  my  heart  be  tuned  within, 
Like  David's  sacred  violin  '.' 

"  The  good  pastor  had  somewhat  of  an  inclination  to 
laugh  in  the  singing-man's  face;  but,  maintaining  his 
gravity  as  he  best  could,  he  thought  he  could  suggest  a 
further  improvement  of  the  version,  admirable  as  it  was. 
The  highly-delighted  chorister  begged  him  to  do  so; 
and  the  minister  wrote  before  his  parishioner, — 

'  Oh,  may  my  heart  go  diddle,  diddle, 
Like  Uncle  David's  sacred  fiddle!' 

"  The  poor  man,  after  a  vain  attempt  to  justify  his 
own  parody,  retired  to  sing  the  psalm  as  it  stands." 

It  sometimes  happens  that  preachers  and  choristers 
are  not  entirely  united  in  their  views,  even  in  the  church 
itself.  Some  years  since,  a  Millerite  preacher  in  Vermont 
declared,  during  the  delivery  of  a  sermon,  that  he  did  not 
expect  to  die,  but  anticipated  being  alive  when  Christ 
came,  and  hoped  to  dwell  with  him  on  this  earth  for- 
ever. The  chorister  took  quite  a  different  view  of  the 
matter,  and  selected,  as  the  closing  piece  for  the  choir, — 

"  I  would  not  live  alway  :  I  ask  not  to  stay 
Where  storm  after  storm  rises  dark  o'er  the  way." 

A  minister  can  reprove  as  readily  as  a  chorister  can. 
At  a  church  in  Xcw  England,  a  stranger  was  called  to 
officiate  in  the  absence  of  the  pastor,   and,  not  being 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  53 

familiar  with  some  rules  of  the  choir,  so  much  offended 
them  that,  they  would  not  sing.  After  several  efforts, 
the  preacher  determined  not  to  be  discomfited,  and  read 
the  verse, — 

"  Let  those  refuse  to  sing 

Who  never  knew  our  God  ; 
But  children  of  the  heavenly  King 
May  speak  their  joys  abroad." 

This  roused  the  whole  choir  and  consre-ffation,  who  at 
once  joined  in  with  the  minister,  and  the  service  passed 
off  very  pleasantly. 

Not  many  years  since,  a  minister  in  New  Hampshire 

fell,  as  will  sometimes  happen,  into  a  difficulty  with  his 

choir,  which  for  some  time  prevented  their  accustomed 

services.     At  length  the  choir  relented,  and  appeared,  as 

heretofore,  at  the  usual  time  of  service.     The  minister 

most  unexpectedly   saw  them  in  their  places,  and  in 

due  time,  looking  very  significantly,  rose  and  read  the 

hymn  — 

"And  are  ye  wretches  yet  alive, 
And  do  ye  yet  rebel  ?" 

All  parties  were  pleased  when  the  affair  was  ended. 

The  Methodist  body,  founded  by  the  Eev.  John  Wesley, 
have  always  been  a  singing  community.  The  two  brothers 
Wesley  published,  during  their  lives,  not  less  than  forty- 
eight  books  and  tracts  of  hymns,  for  the  use  of  their 
people.  "  Some  of  these,"  says  John  Wesley,  "  had  such 
a  sale  as  I  never  thought  of."  Nothing,  indeed,  has  con- 
tributed more  to  their  extension  than  the  almost  uni- 


54  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

versal  discharge  of  this  important  part  of  worship \  and 

especially  was  this  true  before  the  modern  introduction 
of  choirs.  As  early  as  1752,  Mr.  Wesley  published  a 
collection  of  tunes  for  the  use  of  his  followers;  and  in 
1761  he  published  "Select  Hymns,  with  Tunes  annexed, 
designed  chiefly  for  the  use  of  the  People  called  Method- 
ists," — in  the  preface  to  which  he  says,  "I  want  the 
people  called  Methodists  to  sing  true  the  tunes  which 
are  in  common  use  among  them.  At  the  same  time,  I 
want  them  to  have  in  one  volume  the  best  hymns  we 
have  printed,  and  that  in  a  small  and  portable  volume, 
and  one  of  an  easy  price.  I  have  been  erdeavoring  for 
more  than  twenty  years  to  procure  such  a  book  as  this, 
but  in  vain.  Masters  of  music  were  above  following 
any  direction  but  their  own;  and  I  was  determined 
whoever  compiled  this  should  follow  my  direction, — 
not  mending  our  tunes,  but  setting  them  down  neither 
better  nor  worse  than  they  were.  At  length  I  have 
prevailed." 

So  intent  was  John  "Wesley  on  this  part  of  his  work 
that,  in  travelling  through  England,  he  often  stood  in 
the  pulpit  familiarly  directing  this  part  of  worship, 
calling  in  turn  on  the  men  and  the  women  to  take  theii 
parts  in  the  holy  song.  One  of  the  happy  effects  of 
Methodist  singing,  which  is  observed  alike  in  the  great 
congregation,  the  social  prayer-meeting,  and  the  family 
circle,  is  that  we  have  known  more  than  one  congrega- 
tion, where  there  has  been  very  unacceptable  preaching, 
kept  together  by  animated  Binging. 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  .).) 

The  Eev.  G.  W.  Ilervey,  in  a  recent  interesting  article 
in  the  "  Christian  Review"  tells  us  that  this  eminent  man 
-was  fully  persuaded  of  the  necessity  of  a  musical  re- 
viva',  which  should  give  utterance  to  the  new  expe- 
riences of  his  converts.  Happening  one  day  to  hear  a 
sailor  singing  in  the  street,  it  struck  him  that  the  melody 
he  was  pouring  forth  would,  above  all  others,  suit  the 
words  of  some  of  his  hymns,  and  greatly  delight  and 
edify  the  people.  Knowing  how  to  write  music,  he 
wrote  down  the  notes  on  the  spot,  introduced  them  into 
his  meetings,  and  always  declared  that  it  wras  the  most 
solemn  and  appropriate  of  all  the  tunes  which  were 
sung  by  his  followers. 

Nor  was  the  eminent  George  Whitefield  less  interested 
in  lively,  simple  congregational  singing.  He  was-  most 
decidedly  averse  to  the  cathedral-music  of  his  day,  and  to 
"  the  linked  sweetness  long  drawn  out"  of  the  parochial 
psalmody  of  England.  He  would  not  suffer  a  bar  of  it  to 
be  warbled  in  his  houses  of  worship.  He  also  thought 
that  the  lively  ballad-airs  of  secular  origin  were  more 
suitable  to  the  joy  and  gladness  of  the  new-born  soul. 
He  declared  that  it  was  shameful  to  praise  God  in  the 
drawling  strains  of  the  Church,  and  downright  sacrilege 
to  allow  the  devil  the  monopoly  of  all  the  jubilant  music. 

Every  one,  too,  knows  that  the  great  awakening  in 
the  days  of  our  own  Jonathan  Edwards  was  attended  by 
general  song.  He  defended  the  practice  in  a  masterly 
manner,  and  showed  that  to  complain  of  it  was  to  re- 
semble the  Pharisees,  who  were  disgusted  with  the  mul- 


66  BI8TORI0AL    BKETCHK8. 

titude  of  the  disciples  when  with  loud  voices  they  praised 
God  and  shouted  "Hosanna"  as  Christ  entered  Jeru- 
salem. 

The  Eev.  Charles  Wesley  has  a  beautiful  hymn  on 
"  The  True  Use  of  Music,"  founded  on  1  Cor.  xiv.  15,  "I 
will  sing  with  the  spirit,  and  I  will  sing  with  the  under- 
standing also."  Well  does  he  say  of  this  charming 
science, — 

"  Listed  into  the  cause  of  sin. 
"Why  should  a  good  be  evil ! 
Music,  alas!  too  long  has  been 
Pressed  to  obey  the  devil." 

In  the  hymn  now  before  us  he  says, — 

ie Still  let  us  on  our  guard  be  found, 
And  watch  against  the  power  of  sound 

"With  sacred  jealousy : 
Lest,  haply,  sense  should  damp  our  zeal, 
And  music's  charms  bewitch  and  steal 

Our  hearts  away  from  thee." 

The  venerable  John  Wesley,  who  was  both  a  poet  and 
a  warm  lover  of  music,  when  asked  his  opinion  of  the  pro- 
priety of  the  introduction  of  instrumental  music  into  the 
worship  of  the  ^Methodists,  said,  in  his  own  terse  manner, 
"  I  have  no  objection  to  instruments  of  music  in  our  cha- 
pels, provided  they  are  neither  heard  nor  seen." 

The  late  Dr.  Adam  Clarke  wrote,  u  Music,  as  a  science. 
I  love  and  admire;  but  instruments  of  music  in  the 
house  of  God  I  abominate  and  abhor.  This  is  the  abuse 
of    music;    and  T  here  register  my  protest  against  all 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  57 

such  corruptions  in  the  worship  of  the  Author  of  Chris- 
tianity." 

Certain  it  is  that  this  "delight  of  the  ears"  has  done 
very  much,  in  modern  times,  to  increase  attendance  on 
public  worship.  One  denomination  among  us,  at  least, 
has  done  as  much  by  its  singing  as  by  its  preaching  to 
attract  vast  crowds.  ]STor  is  this  peculiar  to  Protestants. 
Southey  tells  us,  in  his  History  of  Brazil,  that,  rinding  the 
Tupis  passionately  fond  of  music,  the  Jesuit  suited  him- 
self to  their  taste,  until  he  began  to  hope  that  the  fable 
of  Orpheus  was  a  type  of  his  mission,  and  that  by  songs 
he  was  to  convert  the  Brazilian  pagans.  He  usually 
took  with  him  four  or  five  choristers  on  his  preach- 
ing expeditions.  When  they  approached  an  inhabited 
place,  one  carried  the  crucifix  before  them,  and  the  rest 
began  singing  the  litany.  The  savages,  like  snakes, 
were  won  by  the  voice  of  the  charmer,  and  everywhere 
received  him  joyfully. 

\Ye  are  tempted,  in  this  place,  to  make  a  few  remarks 
on  the  almost  intolerable  evil  of  making  alterations  in 
good  old-fashioned  psalms  and  hymns,  which  is  generally 
done  by  persons  of  great  affectation  or  great  conceit,  or 
for  the  sake  of  a  closer  conformity  to  their  "new  and 
superior  music."  For  some  of  our  hints  we  own  our- 
selves indebted  to  the  "  Presbyterian." 

\Ye  have  elsewhere  referred  to  a  most  popular  and 
useful  hymn  by  Gregg.     He  wrote  the  first  verse, — 

"Jesus  !  and  shall  it  ever  be? 
A  mortal  man  ashamed  of  thee ! 


58  historical   BKETOHCB, 

Ashamed  of  tliee,  whom  angels  praise, 

W 'hose  glory  shines  through  endless  days!" 

See  how  miserably  the  last  two  lines  are  converted 
into  bathos  in  a  popular  hymn-book  : — 

"  Jesus  !  and  shall  it  ever  be  ? 
A  mortal  man  ashamed  of  thee ! 
Scorned  be  the  thought  by  rich  and  poor ; 
Oh,  may  I  scorn  it  more  and  more  .'" 

Perhaps  the  same  thinker  and  would-be  "improver'' 
substituted  for  the  following  line  of  Watts, — 

"  When  God,  the  mighty  Maker,  died," 

the  softened  language, — 

"When  Christ,  the  mighty  Saviour,  died." 

We  cannot  doubt  that  both  these  alterations  were  in- 
tended to  modify  the  ascriptions  of  Deity  to  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  are  therefore  unpardonable,  at  least  with 
those  who  love  the  old  scriptural  doctrine  conveyed  in 
language  which  long  since  became  endeared  to  their 
hearts. 

Here  is  another  exquisite  verse  from  the  same  au- 
thor:— 

"  My  willing  soul  would  stay 
In  such  a  frame  as  this, 
And  sit  and  sing  herself  away 
To  everlasting  bliss." 

There  is  both  beauty  and  poetry  in  the  idea  of  the 
soul  "  singing  herself  away  ;"  but  the  "  improvers"  make 
it  read, — 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  59 

11  Till  called  to  rise  and  soar  away 
To  everlasting  bliss." 

Can  any  one  give  us  the  reason  for  the  change  of  a 
single  word  in  the  last  verse  of  Watts' s  seventeenth 
Psalm  ? — 

"  Then  burst  the  chains  with  sweet  surprise." 

Why  must  it  be  so  altered  as  to  read — 

"  Then  burst  the  chains  with  glad  surprise?" — 

which  assuredly  destroys  the  author's  idea. 
The  poet  Cowper  wrote  in  one  of  his  hymns, — 

"  What  peaceful  hours  I  once  enjoyed  ! 
How  sweet  their  memory  still ! 
But  they  have  left  an  aching  void 
The  world  can  never  fill." 

Could  words  be  chosen  more  precise  and  expressive  ? 
What  then  must  be  the  effect  of  such  an  "improve- 
ment" in  the  third  line  ? — 

"  But  now  I  feel  an  aching  void,"" — 

as  though  the  victim  had  a  sudden  sense  of  goneness,  or 
an  attack  of  the  colic. 

Another  of  Cowper's  most  precious  hymns  has  suf- 
fered even  more  cruelly  than  this,  the  alteration  being 
at  once  barbarous  and  unpoetical,  though  made  to  render 
it  more  readily  adapted  to  the  music  : — 

"  Then,  in  a  nobler,  sweeter  song, 
I'll  sing  thy  power  to  save, 
When  this  poor  lisping,  stammering  tongue 
Lies  silent  in  the  grave." 


GO  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

The  last  two  lines,  slightly  altered,  have  been  placed 
first,  and  the  whole  verse  is  thus  presented  : — 

""When  this  poor  lisping,  faltering  tongue 
Lies  silent  in  the  grave, 
Then,  in  a  nobler,  sweeter  song 
I'll  sing  thy  power  to  save." 

We  cannot  be  surprised  that  Dr.  Eethune,  himself  a 
poet  of  no  mean  order,  should  have  once  indignantly 
said  from  the  pulpit,  "  I  should  like  to  know  who  has 
had  the  presumption  to  alter  Cowper's  poetry." 

A  recent  number  of  the  "  Presbyterian  Quarterly  Review," 
when  speaking  of  Charles  Wesley's  admirable  hymn, — 

"Thou  God  of  glorious  majesty!" 

says,  with  great  propriety,  "  Our  menders  of  sacred 
lyrics  have  violated  all  decency  in  their  transformation 
of  the  original,  and  have  really  altered,  not  the  phrase- 
ology merely,  but  the  sense :" — 

"  Lo  !  on  a  narrow  neck  of  land, 
'Twixt  two  unbounded  seas  I  stand, 
Secure,  insensible!" 

The  poet  represents,  in  this  triplet,  a  half-awakened 
sinner,  not  wholly  alive  to  his  position,  just  beginning 
to  discern,  but  not  fully  to  apprehend,  his  danger, — "  se- 
cure, insensible,"  until  clearer  light  falls  from  the  Spirit 
of  God  upon  his  soul :  then,  indeed,  he  sees  the  yawning 
gulf  beneath  him,  on  either  side,  and  cries  out, — 

"A  point  of  time — a  moment's  space — 
Removes  me  to  that  heavenly  place, 
Or  shuts  me  up  in  hell!" 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  61 

How  miserably  tame  and  meaningless,  compared  with 
the  original,  is  the  "improved"  rendering  ! — 

"  Yet  how  insensible  !" 

If  we  needed  additional  proof  that  our  compilers 
failed  to  appreciate  the  living,  burning  thought  of  the 
poet,  we  have  it  in  the  next  stanza, — 

"0  God,  my  inmost  soul  convert, 
And  deeply  on  my  thoughtless  heart.'' 

The  poet  wrote  "  thoughtful  heart :"  his  genius  had 
called  into  being  a  sinner  who  had  been  insensible, — who 
had  imagined  himself  secure  on  the  narrow  promontory 
of  probationary  life,  but  whose  eyes  are  now  open  to 
his  danger.  He  begins  to  think.  No  longer  thought- 
lessly secure,  he  is  now  thought-/uZ,  and  beseeches  God 
that  eternal  things  may  be  impressed  more  deeply  on 
his  mind. 

But,  as  though  this  amount  of  alteration  were  not 
sufficient  to  satisfy  us,  the  author  is  made  to  say, — 

"  Give  me  to  feel  their  solemn  -weight, 
And  save  me  ere  it  be  too  late."(!) 

"We  suppose  that  if  God  saves  at  all,  it  will  be  "  ere 
it  be  too  late." 

Who  can  forgive  this  literary  theft  of  one  of  the  finest 
and  boldest  lines  ever  penned  by  poet  ? — 

"  And  tremble  on  the  brink  of  fate.'" 

This  is  true  poetry ;  and  the  strong  expression  at  the  end 
of  the  line,  which  our  compilers  seem  to  have  shunned,  so 


bZ  HISTORICAL   SKETCHES. 

far  from  being  unwarrantably  bold,  is  appropriate  and 
effective,  and  its  use  is  sustained  by  numerous  scriptural 
examples. 

While  we  are  on  tbis  subject  of  "  emendation"  of 
hymns,  and  especially  of  the  "  improved"  versions  of 
those  composed  by  the  Wesleys,  we  cannot  forbear  to 
quote  the  words  of  John  Wesley,  in  which  be  "sharply" 
rebukes  some  of  the  trespassers  on  his  domain,  in 
language  like  this  : — "  Many  gentlemen  have  done  my 
brother  and  me,  thougb  without  naming  us,  the  honor 
to  reprint  many  of  our  hymns.  Xow,  they  are  perfectly 
welcome  so  to  do,  provided  they  print  them  just  as  they 
are.  But  I  desire  they  would  not  attempt  to  mend 
them ;  for  they  really  are  not  able.  Xone  of  them  is 
able  to  mend  either  the  sense  or  the  verse.  Therefore 
I  must  beg  of  them  one  of  these  two  favors :  either  to 
let  them  stand  just  as  they  are, — to  take  them  for  better 
or  for  worse, — or  to  add  the  true  meaning  at  the  bottom 
of  the  page,  that  we  may  be  no  longer  accountable  for 
the  nonsense  or  for  the  doggerel  of  other  men." 

After  all,  however,  alterations  are  sometimes  needful, 
and  occasionally  are  great  improvements :  as,  for  in- 
stance, John  Wesley's  own  "  improvement"  of  Watts' 
hundredth  Psalm.    The  author  wrote  its  first  two  lines, — 

••  Nations,  attend  before  his  throne, 

With  solemn  fear,  with  sacretl  joy." 

Wesley  changed  it  to, — 

"Before  Jehovah's  awful  throne, 

Ye  nation*,  how  with  sacre<l  iov." 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  63 

"Another  distinguished  hymn  of  Watts,"  says  the 
unknown  author  from  whom  we  are  quoting,  "was 
altered  by  the  same  hand,  in  its  first  stanza,  and  the 
change  has  become  classic.  No  one  would  propose  to 
print  the  following  verse  as  Watts  wrote  it : — 

1  He  dies  !  the  heavenly  Lover  dies ! 

The  tidings  strike  a  doleful  sound 
On  my  poor  heart-strings.     Deep  he  lies 
In  the  cold  caverns  of  the  ground.' 

Wesley's   transformed   stanza  is  almost  infinitely  pre- 
ferable : — 

'  He  dies !  the  Friend  of  sinners  dies  ! 
Lo  !  Salem's  daughters  weep  around  ; 
A  solemn  darkness  veils  the  skies, 
A  sudden  trembling  shakes  the  ground.'  " 

Nor  can  it  be  denied  that  our  more  recent  editors  do, 
occasionally,  give  us  an  emendation ;  but  we  trust  that 
in  their  future  acts  of  this  character  they  will  remember 
their  vast  responsibility,  and  further,  that,  of  every  hun- 
dred of  the  changes  they  make,  at  least  ninety  and  nine 
are  for  the  worse. 

It  has  long  been  to  us  a  matter  of  surprise  that  our 
congregations  do  not  acquire  a  habit  of  chanting, — a 
practice  at  once  both  easy  and  delightful.  To  use  the  cor- 
rect language  of  Dr.  Whitaker,  in  his  "  Life  of  St.  Neot" 
"  The  chant  not  merely  assists  the  voice  and  gives  it  a 
larger  volume  of  sound  for  an  extensive  church,  but, 
what  is  of  much  more  consequence,  augments  its  de- 
voutness  by  the  modulation  of  its  tones, — by  the  rapid 
flow  at  one  time,  by  the  solemn  slowness  at  another, — 


64  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

by  the  rise,  the  fall,  and  the  swell,  much  more  strongly 
marked  than  any  of  these  can  be  in  reading, — much 
more  expressive  of  devoutness  in  the  officiating  clergy- 
man, and  much  more  impressive  of  devoutness  upon  the 
attending  congregation.  A  chanted  prayer  is  thus  the 
poetry  of  devotion,  while  a  prayer  read  is  merely  the 
prose  of  it.  So,  at  least,  thought  the  wisest  and  the  best 
of  our  ancestors, — men  peculiarly  qualified  to  judge,  be- 
cause their  intellects  were  exalted  and  their  spirits  de- 
vout,— who  therefore  carried  the  chanted  prayer  from 
our  churches  into  their  closets." 

May  wre  be  allowed  here  to  touch  on  a  subject  of  some 
delicacy  ?  We  refer  to  the  complaint  often  made  as  to 
the  congregational  services  in  our  churches  being  too 
long,  and  as  to  the  part  to  be  abbreviated.  We  are  not 
aware  of  any  cases  in  which  a  Christian  would  abridge 
the  duty  of  adoration  and  prayer:  so  that  the  real 
question  is,  which  shall  be  shortened,  the  singing  or  the 
preaching  ?  Our  answer  may  be  given  in  a  few  words. 
If  the  hymn  selected  be  one  containing  little  that  is  de- 
votional, and  only  intended  to  gratify  the  intellect,  or 
if  it  be  chiefly  employed  to  call  out  the  taste  and  the 
science  of  the  choir  and  to  claim  the  admiration  of  the 
unconverted  listeners,  by  all  means  abbreviate  the  sing- 
ing; but  if  the  psalmody  be  strictly  what  it  professes 
to  be, — devotional  and  heavenly, — if  many  hearts  of  the 
truly  devout  are  engaged  in  it,  and  if  it  produces  a 
soul-subduing  influence,  raising  the  heart  to  God  and 
heaven,  by  no  means  shorten  that  portion  of  the  wor- 


HISTORICAL    SKETCH  I-  05 

ship.  There  can  be  no  difficulty  on  the  part  of  the 
preacher,  with  proper  labor  and  thought,  condensing 
the  matter  of  his  sermon  so  as  to  make  it  five  minutes 
shorter;  and  it  will  often  prove  beneficial  to  the 
preacher's  intellect  and  heart  that  his  performances 
should  pass  through  such  an  ordeal.  In  such  matters, 
after  all,  "  wisdom  is  profitable  to  direct." 

At  the  risk  of  being  charged  with  prolixity  in  these 
miscellaneous  introductory  pages,  we  will  refer,  in  closing, 
to  a  few  general  facts,  which  we  hope  will  not  be  with- 
out their  use  to  at  least  some  of  our  friends. 

Bishop  Home,  in  his  admirable  sermon  on  Church- 
Music,  quotes  from  Collier,  the  ecclesiastical  historian, 
as  saying,  "Religious  harmony  must  be  moving,  but 
noble  withal,  grave,  solemn,  and  seraphic,  fit  for  a  mar- 
tyr to  play  and  an  angel  to  hear."  Sad  havoc  has  been 
committed,  in  modern  times,  by  the  introduction  into 
many  of  our  churches  of  vulgar  and  light  productions, 
devoid  of  the  slightest  pretensions  to  taste,  and  full  of 
the  grossest  offences  against  the  laws  of  musical  com- 
position. Solos,  and  every  attempt  at  fugue,  and  the 
like,  should  be  most  rigidly  excluded.  ATe  are  quite 
aware  that  a  very  great  number  of  persons  prefer  vul- 
gar and  trashy  compositions  to  sound  classical  music, 
and  argue  that  because  a  melody  happens  to  please 
them,  it  must  necessarily  be  good.  This  is  just  as  absurd 
as  though  an  educated  man  were  to  maintain  that  some 
vulgar  ballad,  full  of  offences  against  syntax  and  pro- 


Of  HISTORICAL    SKETCH  K>. 

sody,  was  superior  poetry.  Music  has  its  grammar  as 
well  as  language. 

We  have  noticed,  of  late,  an  increasing  love  of  old  con- 
gregational tunes;  and  perhaps  few  persons  are  aware  of 
the  antiquity  of  some  of  these.  One  called  "  York"  has 
been  ascribed  to  no  less  a  personage  than  Milton  the 
poet;  but  it  was  really  composed  by  his  father.  The  his- 
tory of  "  Old  Hundred"  is  the  subject  of  a  volume  re- 
cently published  by  an  English  clergyman.  Martin 
Luther  was  long  considered  to  be  its  author;  but  it 
has  now  been  discovered  that  it  was  originated  in  the 
sixteenth  century,  by  William  Franc,  a  German,  though 
it  has  been  considerably  changed  from  the  original, — in 
part,  probably,  by  Luther  himself. 

To  advance  the  favorable  reception  of  the  old  tunes, 
it  should  be  remembered  that  they  were  formerly  sung 
much  faster  than  we  sing  them,  and  by  a  far  larger 
number  of  voices.  Our  forefathers  in  the  Church  were 
cheerful  Christians,  and  a  psalm  of  twelve  verses  was 
but  short  to  them.  Old  Hundred  is  sung  as  a  dirge 
now;  but  then  it  was  a  joyous  canticle  : — 

"All  people  that  on  earth  do  dwell. 

Sing  to  the  Lord  icith  cheerful  voice.'" 

York,  too,  now  often  placed  among  the  dull  and  obsolete, 
was  originally  the  most  lively  and  popular  of  tunes. 

Whatever  may  be  the  quality  of  our  hymns  and  tunes, 
we  are  assuredly  far  beyond  all  former  years  in  tho 
quantity  we  use.    Many  years  ago  it  was  announced  that 


HISTORICAL    SKETCHES.  07 

more  than  sixty  thousand  copies  of  the  "Methodist  Hymn- 
Book"  were  sold  annually  in  London  ;  and  in  the  United 
States  the  number  must  be  much  larger.  And,  as  we 
write,  an  advertisement  tells  us  that  "Hallelujah"  a 
volume  of  devotional  tunes  published  in  London,  con- 
tains compositions  in  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  dif- 
ferent metres. 

A  few  lines,  written  some  years  since  by  Dr.  Joshua 
Leavitt,  may  be  here  introduced  with  advantage.  Ho 
says,  "  In  revivals  of  religion  a  species  of  music  is  sought 
entirely  different  from  that  which  is  ordinarily  used.  The 
state  of  feeling  is  such  then  that  it  swells  beyond  the 
shackles  of  musical  authority,  and  the  music  is  sought 
for  and  employed  which  is  known  to  produce  effects.  A 
class  of  tunes  which  has  long  been  under  the  sentence 
of  banishment  from  our  music-books  and  singing-schools 
is  then  sought  for.  The  squeamish  affectation  of  not 
using,  in  the  service  of  God,  music  of  known  power  to 
move  because  it  has  been  already  proved  in  the  service 
of  the  world  or  of  Satan  is  abandoned.  Singing  assumes 
a  new  character,  and  the  rejoicing  people  of  God  are 
amazed  at  its  powers.  I  wish  the  musicians  should  ex- 
plain, especially  those  of  them  who  love  revivals.  And 
I  desire  that  ministers  should  ask  how  they  can  excuse 
themselves  if  they  thus  allow  a  powerful  means  of  grace 
to  be  neutralized  by  submitting  all  their  music  to  the 
control  of  a  scientific  theory. 

"  It  is  not  unfrequently  found  that  persons  who  have 
not  what  is  called  a  musical  ear  are  yet  keenly  suscepti- 


G8  HISTORICAL    SKETCHES. 

ble  to  the  practical  influence  of  musical  sounds.  Those 
who  are  awakened  or  enlightened  by  the  singing  that 
takes  place  in  a  revival  will  not,  by  any  means,  be  con- 
fined to  the  singers.  Many  Christians  have  seen  this, 
and  have  felt  the  want  of  a  reform  in  our  musical  sys- 
tem. A  great  deal  of  that  which  is  found  useful  in  re- 
vivals is  passed  along  by  tradition  and  learned  by  rote. 
Many  congregations  where  revivals  are  known  are  desti- 
tute of  such  music ;  but,  where  they  have  a  knowledge 
of  it,  the  denunciations  of  the  music-master  and  the 
organist  are  disregarded.  People  icill  sing  music  that 
means  something  and  that  meets  their  feelings  more 
than  ordinary  psalm-tunes.  It  is  astonishing  to  learn 
the  rich  variety  of  such  music  which  is  thus  preserved 
by  tradition,  and  preserved  thus  because  it  is  excluded 
from  books.  All  musical  writers  denounce  these  tunes 
and  proscribe  them  from  their  pages,  and  yet  they  are 
preserved.  There  are  tunes  now  sung  in  prayer-meet- 
ings which  have,  in  this  way,  outlived  whole  generations 
of  what  is  called  scientific  music.  Is  it  not  time  that 
we  should  act  a  little  from  facts  and  experience,  and 
leave  musical  theories  to  their  proper  sphere, — in  the 
speculations  of  writers  whose  professed  object  is  some- 
thing aside  from  the  salvation  of  souls  V* 

In  entire  accordance  with  these  remarks  are  some 
thus  expressed  by  the  venerated  theologian,  Andrew 
Fuller  : — "  The  criterion  of  a  good  tune  is  not  its  pleasing 
a  scientific  ear,  but  its  being  quickly  caught  by  a  congre- 
gation.    It  is,  I  think,  by  singing  as  it  is  by  preaching: 


HISTORICAL   SKETCHES.  69 

a  fine  judge  of  composition  will  admire  a  sermon  which 
yet  makes  no  manner  of  impression  upon  the  public 
mind,  and  therefore  cannot  be  a  good  one.  That  is  the 
best  sermon  which  is  adapted  to  produce  the  best  ef- 
fects ;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  a  tune.  If  it  cor- 
responds with  the  feelings  of  a  pious  heart  and  aids  him 
in  realizing  the  sentiments,  it  will  be  quickly  learnt,  and 
be  sung  with  avidity.  Where  this  effect  is  not  produced, 
were  I  a  composer,  I  would  throw  away  my  performance 
and  try  again." 


AUTHORS 


ORIGIN   OF  HYMNS. 


Authors  and  Origin  of  Hymns. 


SARAH  F.  ADAMS. 

The  admirable  hymns  published  with  this  signature 
were  written  by  a  lady  eminent  for  her  musical  talents. 
She  wrote,  besides  hymns  and  criticisms,  several  works 
collected  under  the  title  of  "  Adoration,  Aspiration,  and 
Belief."     She  died  in  1848. 


JOSEPH  ADDISON. 

Addison,  who  nourished  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
seventeenth  and  the  early  portion  of  the  eighteenth 
centuries,  commands  the  respect  of  all  who  value  re- 
ligion and  morals.  Though  in  the  early  part  of  his  life 
he  devoted  himself  to  j>olitical  affairs,  he  soon  abandoned 
them,  as  also  an  earlier  design  of  taking  orders  in  the 
English  Church,  and  gave  his  days  and  nights  to  litei'a- 
ture,  in  which,  contrary  to  the  majority  of  writers,  he 
was  successful.  Especially  did  he  advance  literature 
and  fine  taste  by  the  publication  of  the  "  Spectator,"  the 

happy  results  of  which  are  still  felt  in  literary  circles  in 

7  73 


71  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HTM 

England.  His  hymns,  originally  printed  in  the  4%  v 
tator,"  are  still  increasingly  admired,  and  are  extending 
in  their  usefulness.  In  17 10  he  was  married  to  the 
Countess  Dowager  of  Warwick,  whose  son,  it  will  be  re- 
membered, he  sent  for  on  his  death-bed,  in  1729,  to  see 
in  what  peace  a  Christian  could  die.  It  has  been  very 
truly  said  that  he  has  divested  vice  of  its  meretricious 
ornaments,  and  painted  religion  and  virtue  in  the  in 
and  graceful  attire  which  charms  and  elevates  the  heart. 
In  addition  to  his  hymns,  he  wrote  a  part  of  a  version 
of  the  Psalms,  which  was  never  completed. 


CHRISTOPHER  ANGELUS. 

This  eminent  person,  who  died  in  the  seventeenth 
century,  was  the  author  of  the  beautiful  hymn,  recently 
introduced  into  one  or  two  of  our  books, — 

"Loying  Shepherd,  kind  and  true." 

His  origin  was  Greek  j  and,  being  driven  from  Pelopon- 
nesus by  the  Turks,  he  went  to  England,  and  studied 
at  the  Cambridge  University,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Bishop  of  Norwich.  He  afterward  studied  at  Baliol 
College,  Oxford,  where  he  proved  very  useful  in  in- 
structing the  students  in  Greek.  His  most  valuable 
work  was  an  account  of  his  sufferings,  printed  in  1716, 
in  Greek  and  English.  The  hymn  to  which  we  have 
referred  is  beautiful  alike  for  its  simplicity  and  its  evan- 
gelical unction. 


REV.    JAMES   ALLEN.  75 

REV.  JAMES  ALLEN. 

"Sinners,  will  you  scorn  the  message?" 

wafl  written  by  James  Allen,  who  was  born  in  York- 
shire, England,  in  1734,  and  died  in  his  native  villa 
in  1804.  His  father,  intending  him  for  the  ministry  in 
the  Established  Church,  placed  him  under  the  care  of  a 
clergyman,  whose  immoral  conduct,  and  that  of  his  fol- 
lowers, so  disgusted  young  Allen  that  he  at  once  dis- 
sented from  a  Church  that  could  tolerate  such  men. 
Converted  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Ingham,  the  leader 
of  a  small  sect  of  the  Methodists,  Allen  joined  his  con- 
nection, among  whom  he  was  a  popular  minister  for 
nine  years.  He  then  built  a  house  of  worship  for  him- 
self, in  which  he  successfully  labored  till  his  death. 

Before  Mr.  Allen  fully  entered  on  his  ministry,  he 
spent  a  few  months  in  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
where  he  became  acquainted  with  a  gentleman  named 
Ashton,  who  settled  in  Westmoreland.  Mr.  Allen,  many 
years  afterward,  was  preaching  near  Kendal,  where  a, 
mob  was  raised  and  the  preacher  made  a  prisoner.  It 
providentially  happened  that  Mr.  Ashton  was  present : 
he  rushed  through  the  crowd,  took  the  dissenting  minis- 
ter by  the  hand,  expressed  his  great  pleasure  at  seeing 
him,  reminded  him  of  the  happy  days  they  had  spent 
together  at  college,  and  arm  in  arm  walked  with  him  to 
the  village.  The  mob  were  vexed  when  they  found  the 
preacher  to  be  a  friend  of  their  squire,  and  the  clergy- 


76  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

man  regretted  that  so  worthy  a  man  had  left  the  Esta- 
blished Church. 


MRS.  G.  W.  ANDERSON. 

This  estimable  lady,  the  author  of  the  truly  beautiful 
hymn  — 

"  Our  country's  voice  is  pleading," 

is,  we  believe,  of  English  birth,  though  she  came  to  this 
country  in  very  early  life,  and  has  for  some  years  been 
the  wife  of  Professor  Gr.  W.  Anderson,  for  some  time 
engaged  in  the  University  at  Lewisburg,  Pa.  We  be- 
lieve that  Mrs.  A.  has  written  nothing  but  a  few  hymns, 
with  a  small  volume  or  two  for  children,  and  some  arti- 
cles in  newspapers  and  magazines,  which  have  afforded 
much  interest  and  profit  to  children.  We  hope  she  may 
yet  contribute  largely  to  our  hymnology. 


REV.  LEONARD  BACON,  D.D. 

The  hymns  of  this  gentleman,  while  they  aid  our  devo- 
tion, also  command  our  esteem  for  their  sound  judgment, 
correct  imagery,  and  scriptural  theology.  He  was  the  son 
of  a  missionary  to  the  Indians,  and  was  born  at  Detroit 
in  1802,  entered  Yale  College  in  his  sixteenth  year,  gra- 
duated in  1820,  studied  theology  at  Andover,  and  was 
ordained  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  at 


REV.   JOHN   BAKE  WELL.  77 

New  Haven,  in  1825,  when  he  was  twenty-three  years 
of  age.  Pulpit  labors  and  literature  have  well  occupied 
his  days  and  nights.  His  love  of  controversy  is  well 
known  j  but  generally  he  has  been  found  on  the  side  of 
scriptural  truth.  Some  years  ago  he  travelled  in  Eu- 
rope and  Asia,  and  escaped  death  at  the  hands  of  the 
Koords,  in  Nestoria,  in  a  very  extraordinary  manner, 
by  the  influence  of  woman, — the  Agha's  wife.  His  na- 
tural resolution  and  steadiness  of  purpose  were,  under 
God,  of  no  small  value  in  the  dangerous  circumstances 
in  which  he  was  placed. 


REV.  JOHN  BAKEWELL. 

In  reference  to  the  authorship  of  the  beautiful  hymn, — 

"  Hail !  thou  once  despised  Jesus  !" 

or,  as  in  some  books, — 

"Paschal  Lamb,  by  God  appointed," 

there  has  been  some  difference  of  opinion.  It  has  been 
said  by  some  to  have  been  written  by  Madan ;  and  cer- 
tainly he  published  it  in  a  collection  as  early  as  1760. 
But  preponderating  evidence  will  show  it  to  have  been 
the  production  of  John  Bakewell,  of  Greenwich,  Eng- 
land, who  was  born  in  1721.  He  was  one  of  the  earliest 
Methodist  local  preachers  under  the  Wesleys,  having 
commenced  his  ministry  in  1749.  He  wrote  many 
hymns,  and  in  his  own  family  circle  this  was  regarded 


78  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

as  one  of  the  number.     It  is  a  fine  production,  and  is 
very  properly  introduced  into  most  of  our  collections. 

Mr.  Bakewell  died  in  1819,  aged  ninety-eight  years, 
and  was  interred  in  the  City-Eoad  burying-ground,  Lon- 
don.   He  had  been  a  preacher  more  than  seventy  years. 


REV.  THOMAS  BALDWIN,  D.D. 

With  what  delightful  and  tearful  interest  have  we 
stood,  at  the  close  of  a  meeting  of  days,  surrounded  by 
a  group  of  Christians,  and  sung  what  is  called  "  the  union 
hymn," — 

"  From  whence  does  this  union  arise?" 

Its  author  was  born  in  Bozrah,  Conn.,  in  1753,  and  in 
very  early  life,  though  amidst  many  discouragements, 
his  original  thinking  powers  were  greatly  improved  by 
reading.  He  married  while  yet  young,  and  before  he 
was  thirty  was  sent  as  a  representative  to  the  Legislature 
of  his  native  State.  In  1780  he  became  a  decided  Chris- 
tian, and  shortly  afterward  was  baptized.  He  had  enter- 
tained thoughts  of  the  law,  but  was  gradually  led  into  the 
office  of  the  ministry,  to  which  he  was  ordained  in  1783. 
In  1790  he  became  the  pastor  of  the  Second  Baptist 
Church  in  Boston,  a  position  which  he  occupied  with 
ever-growing  success  till  his  sudden  decease  when  on 
a  journey  from  home  in  1825.  He  was  very  amiable  in 
his  spirit  and  deportment,  and  greatly  beloved  by  a 
very  large  circle  of  friends. 


ANNA    LETITIA    BARBAULD.  79 


ANNA  LETITIA  BARBAULD. 

Of  this  lady,  the  author  of  several  of  our  hymns,  in- 
eluding, — 

"When,  as  returns  this  solemn  day," 

we  have  but  little  to  write.  She  was  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished female  writers  of  her  day  within  the  British 
dominions.  Theologically  she  belonged  to  the  more  evan- 
gelical class  of  English  Unitarians,  often  in  her  views 
approaching  what  are  considered  the  orthodox  body  of 
Christians.  She  was  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John 
Aikin,  and  at  1774,  at  the  age  of  thirty-one,  was  mar- 
ried to  the  Eev.  E.  Barbauld,  after  which  she  wrote  her 
11  Early  Lessons,"  "  Hymns  for  Children,"  and  many  other 
works.  She  died  in  1825,  in  her  eighty-second  year,  her 
husband  having  died  three  years  before  her.  It  is  said 
that,  in  her  early  years,  Mrs.  Barbauld  was  favored  with 
many  of  the  instructions  of  Dr.  Doddridge,  and  that 
her  later  years  were  given  to  the  instruction  of  young 
ladies. 


BERNARD  BARTON. 


This  "  Quaker  poet,"  as  he  is  usually  called,  from  the 
fact  that  both  his  parents  and  himself  lived  and  died 
among  that  people,  was  born  in  London,  in  1784,  and 
spent  the  far  larger  portion  of  his  years  as  clerk  in  a 
bank  in   Suffolk,  having  in   very   early  life  buried  his 


80  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

young  and  only  wife.  His  literary  character  has  been 
well  described  by  his  daughter,  who  was  also  his  bio- 
grapher : — "  He  was  not  learned, — in  language,  science, 
or  philosophy.  Nor  did  he  care  for  the  loftiest  kind  of 
poetry,  *  the  heroics/  as  he  called  it.  His  favorite  au- 
thors were  those  who  dealt  most  in  humor,  good  sense, 
domestic  feeling,  and  pastoral  feeling."     The  hymn, — 

"  The  -waters  of  Bethesda's  pool," 

was  originally  written  for  a  friend  greatly  oppressed 
with  sorrow. 

We  are  tempted  here  to  quote  from  one  of  Barton's 
own  letters  a  scene  which  occurred  at  the  funeral  of  a 
young  lady  which  he  attended  in  1841.  "When  the 
usual  service  was  ended,  the  clergyman  stated  that  it 
was  the  wish  of  the  deceased,  or  rather  of  her  relatives, 
that  a  little  hymn  which  had  ever  been  a  great  favor- 
ite of  hers  should  be  sung  on  this  occasion,  and  he  had 
much  pleasure  in  complying  with  the  request.  After  a 
few  minutes,  way  was  made  for  the  children  of  the 
village  school,  which  this  estimable  girl  had  almost 
made  and  managed,  to  come  up  to  the  grave-side, — 
about  twenty  or  twenty-five  little  things,  with  eyes 
and  cheeks  red  with  crying.  I  thought  they  could 
never  have  found  tongues,  poor  things !  but,  once  set 
off,  they  sung  like  a  little  band  of  cherubs.  What 
added  to  the  effect  of  it,  to  me,  was  that  it  was  a  little 
almost-forgotten  hymn  of  my  own,  written  years  ago, 
which  no  one  present,  but  myself,  was  at  all  aware  of." 


n\:\  .   CHBISTOPHEB   BATTY.  81 

Mr.  Barton  died  in  1840.  One  of  the  English  peri- 
odicals has  said,  "Mr.  Barton's  style  is  well  suited  to 
devotional  poetry.  It  has  great  sweetness  and  pathos, 
accompanied  with  no  small  degree  of  power,  which  well 
qualify  it  for  the  expression  of  the  higher  and  purer 
feelings  of  the  heart." 


REV.  CHRISTOPHER  BATTY. 

"Sweet  the  moments,  rich  in  blessing," 

was  written  by  the  Eev.  Christopher  Batty,  a  minister 
among  the  Inghamites,  a  small  sect  of  the  early  Method- 
ists. He  was  a  zealous,  laborious,  and  disinterested 
Christian,  and  was  so  much  esteemed  by  a  family 
named  Green,  in  the  city  of  York,  England,  that  Mr. 
Green  told  him  that,  as  he  had,  under  God,  led  his 
daughter  to  Christ,  and  as  she  had  been  removed  from 
earth,  he  intended  to  leave  him  the  whole  of  his  pro- 
perty ;  but  Mr.  Batty  positively  refused  to  accept  of  it. 
AVhile  an  itinerating  minister,  Mr.  Batty,  his  two  bro- 
thers,— who  were  also  ministers, — and  their  friends  were 
exposed  to  much  persecution.  At  Gisburn,  in  Yorkshire, 
they  were  interrupted  in  their  religious  meeting  by  the 
curate  of  the  parish,  heading  a  large  mob,  entering  the 
place  where  they  were  assembled  for  worship;  but, 
amidst  all  opposition,  there  and  elsewhere  the  word  of 
the  Lord  had  free  course  and  was  glorified.  Dr.  Stevens 
tells  us  that  Mr.  Batty  often  accompanied  the  Wesleys 


82  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

in  their  tours  for  preaching,  and  stood  with  them  like 
"  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ." 


REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER. 

Of  this  eminent  minister  of  Christ  we  need  not  say 
much,  as  the  man  must  indeed  be  ignorant  who  knows 
not  the  author  of  "  The  Saint's  Best,"  and  his  other 
works,  which  could  not  be  printed  in  less  than  sixty 
octavo  volumes.  He  made  no  pretensions  to  poetical 
talent;  but  we  should  pity  the  want  of  taste  on  the 
part  of  the  reader  who  did  not  highly  appreciate  the 
hymn,  in  the  Eev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  "  Plymouth 
Collection/' — 

11  Christ  leads  me  through  no  darker  rooms," 

and  several  others  to  be  found  scattered  through  his  pon- 
derous and  invaluable  volumes.  He  was  born  in  1615, 
was  ejected  from  the  Church  of  England  by  the  Act  of 
Uniformity,  in  1662,  and,  after  enduring  great  persecu- 
tion, died  "in  great  peace  and  joy"  in  1691.  When  Dr. 
Samuel  Johnson  was  asked  by  Boswell  which  of  Bax- 
ter's works  he  should  read,  he  wisely  replied,  "Bead 
them  all :  they  are  all  good." 

Montgomery  gives  us  a  somewhat  glowing  descrip- 
tion of  Baxter's  hymns  and  poetry,  and  tells  us  that  he 
also  left,  fully  prepared  for  the  press,  an  entire  poetical 
version  of  the  Psalms  of  David,  with  other  hymns, 
which  were  published  in  1692  by  his  friend  Matthew 


REV.    BENJAMIN    EEDDOMK.  83 

Sylvester.    His  poetical  works  have  been  most  cherished 
by  those  who  have  read  them  with  most  attention. 


REV.  BENJAMIN  BEDDOME. 

Most  of  our  hymn-books  contain  a  large  number  of 
compositions  by  the  Eev.  Benjamin  Beddome,  a  man 
of  considerable  talents  and  high  attainments,  but  who 
spent  the  far  greater  portion  of  a  long  life  in  the  seclu- 
sion of  a  small  country  village.  He  was  the  son  of  a 
Baptist  minister,  was  called  by  divine  grace  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  and  baptized  by  the  Eev.  Samuel  Wilson,  of 
London,  about  two  years  afterward.  He  visited  Bour- 
ton-on-the-Water  in  1743,  and  was  prevailed  on  to  ac- 
cept a  call  to  the  pastorate,  three  years  afterward.  In 
1749  he  suffered  a  very  severe  illness,  and  on  his  re- 
covery wrote  a  hymn  which  he  afterward  replaced  by 
one  commencing, — 

"If  I  must  die,  oh,  let  me  die 
Trusting  in  Jesus'  blood,— 
That  blood  which  hath  atonement  made 
And  reconciles  to  God." 

Not  long  after  his  recovery  he  was  earnestly  entreated 
to  succeed  Mr.  Wilson,  his  pastor  in  London.  So  deter- 
mined were  this  church  to  obtain  him  that,  after  sending 
call  after  call  in  vain,  they  deputed  one  of  their  number 
to  urge  the  matter  with  him.  This  was  discovered  by 
a  poor  man,  a  member  of  his  church,  to  whom  the  care 
of  the  gentleman's  horse  had  been  intrusted ;  and  hav- 


\  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

ing,  with  excited  feelings,  brought  the  horse  to  Mr.  In  <i- 
dome's  door;  the  poor  man  said  to  the  Londoner,  "  Rob- 
bers of  churches  are  the  worst  of  robbers,"  and  at  once 
set  the  horse  free  to  take  his  own  course.  Mr.  Bed- 
dome's  final  reply  was,  "  I  wTould  rather  honor  God  in 
a  station  even  much  inferior  to  that  in  which  he  has 
placed  me,  than  intrude  myself  into  a  higher  without 
his  direction,"  and  remained  in  his  pastorate  at  Bourton 
till  his  death. 

That  Mr.  Beddome's  attachment  to  Bourton  was  early 
as  well  as  deep,  may  be  seen  from  some  lines  he  wu*ote 
about  1742,  entitled  "  The  Wish  :— 

"  Lord,  in  my  soul  implant  thy  fear : 
Let  faith,  and  hope,  and  love  be  there. 
Preserve  me  from  prevailing  vice 
"When  Satan  tempts  or  lusts  entice. 
Of  friendship's  sweets  may  I  partake, 
Nor  be  forsaken,  or  forsake. 
Let  moderate  plenty  crown  my  board, 
And  God  for  all  be  still  adored. 
Let  the  companion  of  my  youth 
Be  one  of  innocence  and  truth : 
Let  modest  charms  adorn  her  face, 
And  give  her  thy  superior  grace : 
By  heavenly  art  first  make  her  thine, 
Then  make  her  willing  to  be  mine. 
My  dwelling-place  let  Bourton  be, 
And  let  me  live,  and  live  to  thee." 

It  was  not,  however,  till  1749  that  he  entered  the 
marriage-state,  which  was  to  an  excellent  young  lady, 
daughter  of  one  of  his  deacons,  who  was  for  thirty-four 
years  his  beloved  companion. 


REV.    BENJAMIN    BEDDOME.  85 

Mr.  Beddome's  ministrations  retained  to  the  very  last 
all  their  liveliness  and  attractions,  improved  by  the  in- 
creased solemnity  and  wisdom  of  age.  His  earnest 
desire  that  he  might  not  be  long  laid  aside  from  his 
beluved  employment  was  fully  gratified;  for,  having  du- 
ring his  infirmities  been  carried  to  the  house  of  God,  he 
preached  sitting,  and  was  only  confined  to  his  house 
one  Lord's  day.  Only  an  hour  before  his  death  he  was 
found  composing  a  hymn,  of  which  he  wrote, — 

"  God  of  my  life  and  of  my  choice, 
Shall  I  no  longer  hear  thy  voice  ? 
Oh,  let  the  Source  of  joy  divine 
With  rapture  fill  this  heart  of  mine. 

"  Thou  openedst  Jonah's  prison-doors, — 
Be  pleased,  0  Lord,  to  open  ours : 
Then  will  we  to  the  woidd  proclaim 
The  various  honors  of  thy  name." 

This  excellent  man  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  September  3, 
1795,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age,  having  labored 
at  Bourton  fifty-two  years.  In  the  year  1818  a  volume 
of  his  hymns  was  published,  with  a  short  but  beautiful 
preface  by  the  late  eloquent  Eobert  Hall,  who  says, 
"  The  man  of  taste  will  be  gratified  with  the  beautiful 
and  original  thoughts  which  many  of  them  exhibit, 
while  the  experimental  Christian  will  often  perceive  the 
most  sweet  movements  of  his  soul  strikingly  delineated, 
and  sentiments  portrayed  which  will  find  their  echo  in 
every  heart." 


86  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    RYMNS. 

REV.  CHARLES  BEECHER. 

This  gentleman  is  one  of  the  thirteen  children  of  the 
venerable  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  and  is  also  the  brother 
of  Dr.  Edward  and  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  and  of  Mrs. 
Beecher  Stowe.  No  member  of  that  family  can  be  with- 
out talent.  We  believe  that  Mr.  Beecher  ranks  with  the 
Congregationalists;  but  his  publications  would  indicate 
that  he  is  a  very  bold  and  independent  thinker. 


BERNARD. 


This  name  is  usually  printed  with  the  prefix  St.,  as 
having  been  given  him  by  the  Eomish  Church.  He 
lived  in  the  tenth  century,  and  was  the  author  of  a 
Latin  hymn  consisting  of  nearly  two  hundred  lines. 
Parts  of  it  have  been  translated  and  form  at  least 
three  hymns  in  our  books.     One  of  these  begins, — 

"Jesus,  the  very  thought  of  thee." 
The  late  Dr.  Byrom,  of  Manchester,  translated  another 
portion;  and  it  has  been  said  that  John  Newton's  beauti- 
ful hymn, — 

"  How  sweet  the  name  of  Jesus  sounds  !" 

was  also  founded  on  that  of  Bernard.    Nor  can  it  scarcely 
be  doubted  that,  before  Dr.  Doddridge  wrote, — 

"Jesus,  I  love  thy  charming  name," 

he  had  read  the  composition  of  Bernard. 


REV.    JOHN    BERRIDGE.  87 

One  of  the  most  beautiflil  hymns  of  Gerhard  was 
clearly  suggested  also  by  Bernard's  "  Hymn  to  Christ  on 
the  Cross,"  a  translation  of  which  may  be  found  in  a 
recent  English  publication,  "  The  Voice  of  Christian  Life 
in  Song"  We  refer  to  the  hymn  translated  by  Wesley 
and  found  in  the  old  Methodist  hymn-books  as  well  as 
the  one  published  by  the  Moravian  Brethren  : — 

"  0  head  so  full  of  bruises." 


REV.  JOHN  BERRIDGE. 

There  are  few  old  Christians  who  are  unacquainted 
with  the  name  of  the  Rev.  John  Berridge,  one  of  the 
most  successful  preachers  connected  with  the  revival  of 
religion  commenced  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Whitefield  and 
Wesley,  and  author  of  several  hymns  in  our  books  in- 
tended for  the  service  of  the  sanctuary.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  learning  and  wit,  but  still  more  eminent  as  an 
earnest  and  successful  minister  of  Christ.  Some  of  the 
most  important  events  of  his  history  may  be  learned 
from  his  epitaph,  written,  with  the  exception  of  the  last 
date,  by  himself: — "Here  lie  the  remains  of  John  Ber- 
ridge,  the  Yicar  of  Everton,  and  an  itinerant  servant  of 
Jesus  Christ,  who  loved  his  Master  and  his  work;  and, 
after  running  on  his  errands  for  many  years,  was  caught 
up  to  wait  on  him  above.  Reader,  art  thou  born  again  ? 
~No  salvation  without  a  new  birth.  I  was  born  in  sin 
February,  1716,  remained  ignorant  of  my  fallen  state 


88  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN   OF   hymns. 

till  1730,  lived  proudly  on  faith  and  works  for  salvation 
till  1754,  was  admitted  to  Everton  vicarage  1755,  fled  to 
Jesus  for  refuge  1755,  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  January  '-2, 
1793." 

When  this  eminent  clergyman  had  become  fully  ac- 
quainted with  the  value  of  immortal  souls  and  with  the 
importance  of  salvation  by  the  work  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
he  felt  the  vast  import  of  his  ordination-charge,  "  Go 
and  seek  Christ's  sheep  wherever  thou  canst  find  them  f 
and,  taking  a  circuit  of  five  or  six  counties,  he  preached 
upon  an  average  ten  or  twelve  sermons  and  frequently 
rode  a  hundred  miles  a  week.  In  this  course  he  per- 
severed for  more  than  twenty  years.  Many  extraor- 
dinary anecdotes  are  told  of  his  success,  which  was 
very  great.  A  very  large  man  once  went  to  hear  him, 
and  placed  himself  immediately  before  the  pulpit  with 
the  full  design  of  interrupting  him,  and  for  that  purpose 
made  various  strange  gesticulations  and  used  many 
contemptuous  expressions,  Not  at  all  intimidated,  the 
preacher  addressed  him  personally  in  so  powerful  a 
manner  that  he  fell  down  in  the  pew  in  a  most  violent 
perspiration.  After  the  service  had  closed,  he  said,  "  I 
came  to  confuse  this  good  man ;  but  he  has  convinced  me 
that  I  am  indeed  a  lost  sinner."  This  man  lived  an  or- 
nament to  the  gospel  and  died  happy  in  Jesus.  At 
another  time,  while  he  was  standing  upon  a  table  and 
preaching  in  the  open  air  to  a  great  multitude,  two  men 
got  under  the  table  with  the  design  of  overturning  it; 
but   the  word  of    God    so  powerfully   impressed    their 


REV.    JOHN    BERRIDGE.  89 

hearts  that  they  could  not  accomplish  their  purpose, 
and,  after  his  sermon  was  ended,  they  confessed,  with 
strong  feelings  of  shame,  what  they  had  intended  to 
do.  Very  many  facts  might  be  told  of  the  same  general 
character. 

Other  anecdotes,  of  an  essentially  different  kind,  are 
also  related  concerning  him.  Soon  after  he  had  com- 
menced his  annual  visits  to  London,  a  lady  travelled  from 
that  city  to  Everton  to  solicit  his  hand  in  marriage,  as- 
suring him  that  the  Lord  had  revealed  it  to  her  that  she 
was  to  become  his  wife.  He  was  not  a  little  surprised  at 
her  application  and  for  such  a  purpose.  He  paused  for 
a  few  moments,  and  then  replied,  "  Madam,  if  the  Lord 
had  revealed  it  to  you  that  you  are  to  be  my  wife,  surely 
he  would  also  have  revealed  it  to  me  that  I  was  designed 
to  be  your  husband ;  but,  as  no  such  revelation  has  been 
made  to  me,  I  cannot  comply  with  your  wishes."  Of 
course  the  wealthy  lady  went  away  greatly  disappointed. 
Berridge  never  married. 

The  following  lines  were  written  by  this  worthy  man 
and  posted  on  his  clock  : — 

"  Here  my  master  bids  me  stand 
And  mark  the  time  with  faithful  hand : 
What  is  his  will  is  my  delight, — 
To  tell  the  hours  by  day  and  night. 
Master,  be  wise,  and- learn  of  me 
To  serve  thy  God  as  I  serve  thee.': 

When  age  and  its  infirmities  came  on,  he  met  them 
with  unabated  cheerfulness.     He  wrote,  "My  ears  are 

8* 


90  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIH    OF    HYMN-. 

now  so  dull  they  are  not  fit  for  conversation,  and  my 
eyes  are  so  weak  I  can  read  but  little  and  write  less. 
Old  Adam,  who  is  the  devil's  darling,  sometimes  whis- 
pers in  my  ears,  l  AVhat  will  you  do  if  you  become  deaf 
and  blind  Y  I  tell  him  I  must  think  the  more  and  pray 
the  more,  yea,  and  thank  the  Lord  for  eyes  and  ears 
enjoyed  till  I  was  seventy,  and  for  the  prospect  of  a 
better  pair  of  eyes  and  ears  when  these  are  gone."  In 
his  seventy-sixth  year  he  was  seen  to  be  near  his  end, 
and  his  curate  said  to  him,  "  Jesus  will  soon  call  you  up 
higher."  His  reply  was,  "Ay,  ay,  ay;  higher,  higher, 
higher  !"  His  hymn-book  "  Zion's  Songs"  was  published 
in  the  year  1785. 


REV.  G.  W.  BETHUNE,  D.D. 

A  hymn  contained  in  the  "  Parish  Psalms  and  Hymns" 

and  which  we  think  is  destined  to  be  much  more  widely 

known  than  it  is  at  present,  had  a  pleasant  origin.    It 

begins, — 

"  Oh,  for  the  happy  hour," 

and  its  subject  is  that  of  prayer  for  a  revival  of  religion. 
Its  author,  the  Eev.  Dr.  Bethune,  of  Xew  York,  went 
to  his  church  a  few  minutes  before  the  time  of  a  devo- 
tional meeting,  and  while  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  his 
people,  with  a  heart  full  of  his  subject,  he  took  his 
pencil  and  on  a  loose  scrap  of  paper  poured  out  feel- 
ings which  must  meet  a  response  in  every  Christian 
heart,  and  which  will  doubtless  guide  the  prayers  and 


REV.    THOMAS    BLACKLOCK,    D.D.  91 

praises  of  very  many  long  after  their  writer  has  joined 
the  worship  of  the  Jerusalem  above. 

To  this  gentleman  the  Baptists  are  indebted  for  one 
of  the  very  best  of  their  denominational  hymns, — 

"  We  come  to  the  fountain,  we  stand  by  the  wave," 

which  was  written  at  the  special  request  of  the  Eev.  J. 
S.  Holme,  editor  of  the  "  Baptist  Hymn  and  Tune  Book." 
We  may  add  here  that  Dr.  Bethune  was  born  in  1805, 
and  that  his  ministry  seems  to  have  received  its  cha- 
racter from  the  dying  words  of  his  father,  addressed  to 
him  and  his  brother-in-law,  also  in  the  ministry,  "  My 
sons,  preach  the  gospel.  Tell  dying  sinners  of  a  Sa- 
viour.    All  the  rest  is  but  folly." 


REV.  THOMAS  BLACKLOCK,  D.D. 

This  remarkable  man,  author  of  the  well-known  and 
truly  grand  hymn, — 

"  Come,  0  my  soul,  in  sacred  lays," 

was  the  child  of  English  parents,  but  born  at  Annan,  in 
Scotland,  in  1721.  When  only  six  months  old,  he  lost 
his  sight  by  smallpox,  and  suffered  total  blindness 
during  his  life  of  seventy  years,  dying  in  1791.  Not- 
withstanding this  deprivation,  he  acquired  a  respectable 
knowledge  of  Greek,  Latin,  French,  Italian,  and  theo- 
logy, and  became  a  considerable  author.  He  was  li- 
censed to  preach  in  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  created 


92  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

D.D.  by  the  University  of  Aberdeen  in  1756.  In  1762 
he  married  a  lady  admirably  adapted  to  promote  his 
happiness.  One  of  his  friends  says,  "  I  have  known  him 
to  dictate  from  thirty  to  forty  verses  as  fast  as  I  could 
write  them ;  but,  the  moment  he  was  at  a  loss  for  verse 
or  a  rhyme  to  his  liking,  he  stopped  altogether,  and 
could  very  seldom  be  induced  to  finish  what  he  had 
begun  with  so  much  ardor."  The  Rev.  Joseph  Spence, 
Professor  of  Poetry  at  the  University  of  Oxford,  says, 
"He  never  could  dictate  till  he  stood  up;  and,  as  his 
blindness  made  walking  about  without  assistance  incon- 
venient or  dangerous  to  him,  he  fell  insensibly  into  a 
vibratory  sort  of  motion  with  his  body,  which  increased 
as  he  warmed  with  his  subject  and  was  pleased  with  the 
conception  of  his  mind."  And  Burke  says,  in  his  "  Sub- 
lime and  Beautiful"  "Few  men  blessed  with  the  most 
perfect  sight  can  describe  visual  objects  with  more  spirit 
and  justness  than  this  blind  man." 


REV.  JAMES  BODEN. 

This  excellent  Congregational  minister,  the  author  of 
the  well-known  hymn, — 

"Ye  dying  sons  of  men," 

was  born  in  the  city  of  Chester,  England,  in  1757,  in 
the  very  house  in  which  the  eminent  commentator  Mat- 
thew Henry  once  resided.    In  the  garden  in  which  James 


REV.    HORATIUS   BONAR,    D.D.  93 

Boden  first  engaged  in  childish  sports  was  an  alcove  or 
summer-house,  in  which  it  is  said  a  large  part  of  Henry's 
beautiful  Commentary  was  written  j  and  it  was  thought 
by  his  friends  that  the  association  had  no  small  influence 
on  the  mind  of  young  Boden,  who  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
professed  faith  in  Christ.  Having  pursued  the  usual 
preparatory  studies  for  the  ministry  at  Homerton  Col- 
lege, in  1796,  after  laboring  elsewhere,  he  settled  in  the 
populous  town  of  Sheffield,  where  he  preached  three 
times  on  every  Sabbath  till  nearly  seventy  years  of  age. 
In  1839  he  resigned  his  charge,  and  in  1841  was  removed 
from  earth,  in  his  eighty-fifth  year,  having  been  sixty- 
nine  years  a  member  of  the  Church  on  earth. 

The  state  of  his  mind  in  his  last  illness  was  that  of 
sweet  serenity  and  peace.  A  friend  remarking  that  the 
sun  shone  very  beautifully,  he  replied,  with  delightful 
emphasis, — 

"He  is  my  Sun,  though  he  forbear  to  shine : 
I  dwell  forever  on  his  heart,  forever  he  on  mine." 


REV.  HORATIUS  BONAR,  D.D. 

Of  this  gentleman,  several  of  whose  beautiful  compo- 
sitions are  gradually  coming  into  our  books,  we  do  not 
know  very  much.  He  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  was 
born  about  the  year  1810.  He  is  a  prominent  clergy- 
man of  the  Free  Church  of  his  native  land,  and  has 
already  published  several  beautiful  theological  volumes, 


94  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    STUNS. 

which  are  increasing  in  their  usefulness  and  popularity. 
AW-  hope  that  many  years  of  success  await  him. 

AYe  believe  that  the  wife  of  Dr.  Bonar  is  sister  to  the 
late  very  excellent  Mary  Lundie  Duncan. 


REV.  T.  E.  BOND,  M.D. 

The  beautiful  hymn  of  two  verses, — 

"Father  of  spirits,  hear  our  prayer," 

was  written  by  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Bond,  an  excellent 
Methodist  Episcopal  clergyman  of  our  own  country. 
The  hymn  is  simply  an  extract  from  a  long  poem  pre- 
pared by  its  author  some  years  ago  for  a  periodical 
published  in  Baltimore. 

This  worthy  man,  having  passed  the  age  of  three-score 
and  ten,  died  in  March,  1856.  Many  of  his  latter  years 
were  devoted  to  the  service  of  his  denomination  by  the 
agency  of  the  press,  being  an  editor  of  one  of  their  news- 
papers. An  intimate  friend  says  of  him,  "A  warmer 
heart  we  never  knew,  nor  one  more  finely  tuned  to  sym- 
pathy,— more  abounding  in  that  charity  which  never 
faileth.  "With  calm  composure,  when  his  work  was 
done  and  the  time  of  his  departure  was  at  hand,  he 
awaited  his  call,  and  has  left  us  the  satisfactory  as- 
surance that,  although  we  have  one  less  with  whom  to 
take  sweet  counsel  on  earth,  we  have  one  more  friend  in 
heaven." 


FREDER1KA    BREMER.  95 

JOHN  BOWDLER. 

The  hymn, — 

"Children  of  God,  who,  faint  and  slow," 

and  one  or  two  others  used  in  our  churches,  were  writ- 
ten by  a  young  English  barrister,  who  published  two 
octavo  volumes  in  prose  and  verse,  in  1818,  and  died  in 
early  life,  leaving  behind  him  a  fragrant  reputation.  In 
many  respects  he  bore  a  resemblance  to  the  amiable 
Henry  Kirke  White. 


JOHN  BOWRING,  LL.D. 

This  gentleman,  most  remarkably  distinguished  for 
the  acquirement  of  languages,  is  an  Englishman,  born  in 
1792.  He  has  been  eminent  as  a  philologist,  as  a  politi- 
cal writer,  for  the  occupancy  of  various  political  offices, 
and  as  a  poet.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  body, 
— though  this  would  not  be  inferred  from  some  of  his 
hymns,  especially  the  one, — 

"In  the  cross  of  Christ  I  glory." 


FREDERIKA  BREMER. 

Miss  Bremer,  as  is  well  known,  is  a  foreigner,  and  has 
never  produced  any  work  in  the  English  language.    Her 


96  AUTHORS   AND   OlllUIN    OF    HYMNS. 

productions  are  chiefly  novels  and  tales, — though  she  has 
written  a  very  readable  narrative  of  her  visit  to  this 
country.  Her  hymns  are  few  in  number,  but  pleasing 
in  their  character. 


REV.  JEHOIADA  BREWER. 

We  have,  in  several  of  our  books,  a  hymn, — 

"Hail!  sovereign  love,  which  first  began," 

which  is  a" favorite  in  many  of  our  prayer-meetings.  It 
was  almost  the  only  hymn  written  by  the  late  Rev. 
Jehoiada  Brewer,  who  was  born  in  Wales  in  1752, 
and  died  as  a  Congregational  minister  in  Birmingham 
in  1817.  He  was  a  profound  theologian,  a  popular 
preacher,  and  an  earnest  man.  He  expressed  an  ardent 
wish,  in  his  dying  hours,  that  no  memoir  of  him  should 
be  published:  but  this  wish  was  not  regarded;  for  in 
the  following  year  the  editors  of  a  new  London  period- 
ical met  a  general  demand  by  printing  a  very  able  ar- 
ticle concerning  him.  The  original  of  the  hymn  to 
which  we  have  referred  contains  nine  verses.  We  re- 
member his  person  and  character  with  great  interest, 
and  can  never  forget  the  impressive  manner  in  which 
he  read  hymns  from  the  pulpit,  or  the  tone  and  manner 
in  which  he  would  quote  the  remark  of  Dr.  John  Owen, 
"A  man  is  before  God  what  he  is  in  the  closet,  and  no 
more !" 


rilCEBE    H.    BROWN.  97 

REV.  JOHN  NEWTON  BROWN,  D.D. 

A  very  few  of  the  hymns  written  by  this  gentleman 
are  to  be  found  in  our  books.  He  is  attached  to  the 
Baptist  body,  wTas  born  in  New  London,  Conn.,  in  1803, 
and  graduated  at  Madison  University,  at  the  age  of 
twenty  years.  He  has  had  charge  of  two  or  three 
churches  j  but  ill  health  has  long  since  compelled  him  to 
give  up  the  pastorate.  Dr.  Brown  has  for  many  years 
past  been  devoted  to  Christian  literature,  editing,  among 
other  valuable  works,  "  The  Encyclopedia  of  Religious 
Knowledge." 


PHCEBE  H.  BROWN. 


The  writer  of  the  beautiful  hymn  in  most  of  our  re- 
cent collections  beginning, — 

"  I  love  to  steal  a  while  away," 

was  a  Christian  female  obliged  to  struggle  hard  to  sup- 
port a  large  family.  She  was  in  the  habit,  after  the  toils 
of  the  day  were  over,  of  retiring  to  a  quiet  and  shady 

retreat, — 

"  Where  none  but  God  was  near," 

for  prayer.  Her  regular  visits  to  this  spot  drew  the 
attention  of  a  neighboring  lady  of  wealth  and  influence, 
who,  in  the  presence  of  others,  censured  her,  intimating 
that,  instead  of  rambling  out  in  the  evening,  she  had 
better  be  at  home  with  her  children.     Grieved  that  her 


98  AUTHORS    AM)    ORKilN    Of    HYMNS. 

hour's  communion  with  God  after  the  exhausting  labors 
of  the  day  should  be  construed  into  the  neglect  of  her 
family,  she  sat  down  that  evening  with  a  babe  in  her 
arms,  and  wrote  her  "  Apology  for  her  Midnight  Rambles." 
"When  Dr.  Nettleton  was  preparing  his  collection  of 
hymns,  a  friend,  looking  over  her  manuscripts,  found 
this  gem,  and  obtained  its  insertion. 

We  believe  that  the  Rev.  S.  R.  Brown,  the  first  Ameri- 
can missionary  to  Japan,  is  a  son  of  the  lady  of  whom 
we  have  been  writing.  He  is  connected  with  the  Dutch 
Eeformed  Church,  and  has  already  spent  some  years  in 
missionary  labors. 


REV.  SIMON  BROWNE. 

The  well-known  hymn, — 

"Come,  gracious  Spirit,  heavenly  Dove," 

was  written  by  the  Rev.  Simon  Browne,  who  was  born  in 
1680,  began  to  preach  before  he  was  twenty,  was  soon 
after  settled  over  a  large  congregation  in  Portsmouth, 
and  in  1716  removed  to  the  Independent  Church  in  the 
Old  Jewry,  London. 

When  Mr.  Brown  had  been  in  London  about  seven 
years,  he  was  attacked  by  a  very  singular  malady,  which 
never  left  him  through  life.  He  imagined  that  God, 
by  a  singular  instance  of  his  power,  had,  in  a  gradual 
manner,  annihilated  his  thinking  powers,  and  utterly 
divested  him  of  consciousness.     Nothing  grieved  him 


REV.    SIMON    BROWNE.  1)9 

more  than  that  ho  could  not  persuade  others  to  think 
of  him  as  he  thought  of  himself.  Several  causes  have 
been  assigned  as  the  origin  of  his  disease, — one  of  which 
was,  that  once,  when  on  a  journey  with  a  friend,  they 
were  attacked  by  a  highwayman  with  loaded  pistols. 
Mr.  Browne,  being  a  strong  man,  disarmed  him,  seized 
him  by  the  collar,  and  they  both  fell  to  the  ground.  Mr. 
Browne  was  uppermost,  and  kept  the  man  down  while 
his  friend  ran  for  assistance.  When  that  assistance  ar- 
rived, the  man  was  dead.  From  that  sad  hour  Mr. 
Browne  became  a  prey  to  the  awful  imagination  which 
ever  after  haunted  him.  At  the  beginning  of  the  disease 
he  had  frequent  propensities  to  destroy  himself;  but 
later  in  life  he  became  more  calm.  Even  while  in  this 
state  of  mind  he  wrote  an  able  Defence  of  Christianity, 
and  several  other  books,  yet  still  maintained  that  he  had 
no  power  to  think.  He  died,  very  greatly  respected,  at 
the  close  of  1732. 

We  may  add  to  this  sketch  the  fact  that  the  Dedica- 
tion to  Browne's  "  Defence  of  Christianity"  is  to  be  found, 
as  a  most  remarkable  curiosity,  under  his  name,  in  "  The 
Encyclopedia  Britannica."  In  some  respects  his  mental 
delusion  was  more  extraordinary  than  that  of  Cowper ; 
yet,  singular  as  the  fact  may  seem,  in  none  of  his  pro- 
ductions can  there  be  found  any  thing  exceptionable; 
so  that  Toplady  very  properly  said  of  him  that,  "  In- 
stead of  having  no  soul,  he  wrote,  and  reasoned,  and 
prayed  as  if  he  had  two" 

Since  writing  the  above,  wTe  have  read  Mr.  Milner's 


100  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

very  able  volume  of  "  The  Life,  Times,  and  Correspond- 
ence of  Dr.  Watts/'  from  which  we  learn  that,  in  a  paper 
yet  existing  in  the  handwriting  of  that  eminent  man,  it 
is  stated  that,  after  Browne  became  thus  lamentably 
diseased,  he  not  only  wrote  the  production  to  which  we 
have  already  referred,  in  opposition  to  Collins  and  AVool- 
ston,  but  also  published  a  work  on  the  Trinity,  compiled 
a  Dictionary,  and  prepared  the  Exposition  on  the  First 
Epistle  to  the  Corinthians  in  the  continuation  of  Mat- 
thew Henry's  great  work. 


ELIZABETH  BARRETT  BROWNING. 

This  lady,  who  has  several  hymns  in  our  books,  de- 
servedly occupies  a  high  place  in  English  poetical  litera- 
ture. Her  first  publication  was  issued  in  her  maiden 
name  of  Barrett,  in  1838,  being  "  The  Seraphim,  and  other 
Poems."  Several  other  English  works  have  since  pro- 
ceeded from  her  pen,  as  well  as  one  or  two  classical 
translations.  What  Dr.  G.  W.  Bethune  says  of  her 
poetry  in  general  appears  to  us  to  apply  especially  to 
her  hymns : — "  Mrs.  Browning  is  singularly  bold  and 
adventurous.  Her  wing  carries  her,  without  faltering 
at  their  obscurity,  into  the  cloud  and  the  mist,  where 
not  seldom  we  fail  to  follow  her,  but  are  tempted,  while 
we  admire  the  honesty  of  her  enthusiasm,  to  believe  that 
she  utters  what  she  herself  has  but  dimly  perceived.  Much 
of  this,  however,  arises  from  her  disdain  of  carefulness." 


JOHN    H.    BRYANT.  101 

In  early  life  Miss  Barrett  was  afflicted  with  the  rup- 
ture of  a  blood-vessel  on  the  lungs,  and  the  consequences 
for  several  years  were  threatening.  Partially  recover- 
ing her  health,  in  1847  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Brown- 
ing, and  still  pursues  the  study  and  translation  of  Greek 
works  and  the  production  of  beautiful  poetry. 


JOHN  H.  BRYANT. 

This  gentleman,  a  native  of  Cummington,  Mass.,  and 
brother  of  William  C.  Bryant,  was  born  in  1807.  At 
nineteen  he  wrote  a  poem,  "My  Native  Village,"  which 
was  published  in  the  "  United  States  Review  and  Literary 
Gazette"  of  which  his  brother  was  then  one  of  the 
editors.  He  removed,  some  years  since,  to  cultivate  the 
soil  of  Illinois.  His  poetical  productions  from  time  to 
time  continue  to  grace  our  periodicals.  We  are  not 
aware  of  the  existence  of  many  of  his  hymns;  but  one 
or  two  on  Liberty  as  a  Birthright  of  Man  are  to  be 
found  in  some  of  our  books.  The  late  Dr.  Eufus  W. 
Griswold  says  of  him,  "He  is  a  lover  of  nature,  and 
describes  minutely  and  effectively.  To  him  the  wind  and 
the  streams  are  ever  musical,  and  the  forests  and  the 
prairies  clothed  with  beauty.  His  versification  is  easy 
and  correct  j  and  his  writings  show  him  to  be  a  man  of 
refined  taste  and  kindly  feelings,  and  to  have  a  mind 
stored  with  the  best  learning." 


108  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMN- 

WILLIAM  CULLEN  BRYANT. 

This  gentleman  has  furnished  several  hymns  to  some 
of  our  books ;  nor  can  this  be  matter  of  surprise,  as  he 
is  one  of  the  most  eminent  of  our  poets,  though  in  our 
judgment  he  does  not  excel  in  lyrical  composition.  He 
Avas  born  at  Cummington,  Mass.,  in  1797,  graduated  at 
Williams  College  in  1812,  and  engaged  in  the  profession 
of  the  law.  In  1827  he  entered  on  his  duties  as  editor 
of  the  New  York  Evening  Post, — an  office  he  has  ever 
since  filled. 

Several  years  ago  a  beautiful  sketch  of  his  genius  ap- 
peared in  one  of  our  periodicals  ;  and,  though  we  fear 
the  coloring  of  its  religions  character  is  too  high,  we  will 
copy  a  short  extract : — "  No  other  living  poet  has  half 
his  imagination  or  half  his  compressed  energy  of  con- 
ception and  execution.  And  over  all  and  through  all 
his  poetry,  its  life  and  soul,  glows  and  lives  a  spirit  of 
meditation  and  reflection,  the  very  incarnation  of  truth 
and  goodness.  Eeligion,  pure  and  undefiled,  is  the  ele- 
ment of  his  genius  and  the  life  of  his  poetry." 


WILLIAM  BUDDEN. 

The  hymn, — 

"Come,  let  our  voices  join," 

was  written   by  Mr.   William    Budden,  and   was   first 
published,  with  the  signature  of  W.  B.,  in  the  London 


REV.    W.    M.    BUNTING.  103 

"Evangelical  Magazine"  for   1795,    entitled  "A  Hymn 
m  composed  for  the    Use  of  the    Congregation  and  Sunday- 
School    Children   belonging   to   the   Rev.   Mr.  Ashburner's 
Meeting,  Poole,  Dorset." 


REV.  W.  M.  BUNTING. 

This  gentleman,  the  author  of  the  hymn, — 

'•  My  Sabbath  suns  may  all  have  set," 

and  several  others,  is  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  eminent 
Dr.  Jabez  Bunting,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  of  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  preachers  in  England.  The  son  is 
quite  as  remarkable  as  his  father  for  independence  of 
mind,  for  a  clear  exhibition  of  scriptural  truth,  and  for 
a  benevolent  expenditure  of  the  ample  wealth  which 
God  has  placed  in  his  hands.  He  is  tall  and  thin,  of 
delicate,  almost  sickly  appearance,  and  far  from  having 
a  robust  constitution.  He  has  a  fine,  benevolent  coun- 
tenance, a  noble,  commanding  forehead,  bare  of  hair 
to  a  considerable  elevation,  and  is  apparently  quite  unable 
to  endure  the  fatigues  of  his  calling.  He  is,  moreover, 
a  man  of  fine  catholic  spirit,  and,  as  we  know  from  ex- 
perience, warm  in  his  friendships.  He  has  not  written 
much  beside  hymns, — and  many  of  these  have  been  pub- 
lished anonymously;  but  nearly  all  of  them  are  perfect 
gems,  and  are  entirely  free  from  the  spirit  of  secta- 
rianism. 


104 


AUTHORS    AND    ORIOIN    OF    HYMNS. 


REV.  JOHN  BUNYAN. 

"  Glorious  John,"  it  must  be  confessed,  had  few  talents  * 
of  an  eminent  hymn-writer,  though  we  suspect  he  had 
more  than  he  has  usually  received  credit  for.  His  com- 
positions of  this  order,  we  admit,  are  not  to  be  found 
"  in  the  books."  There  is,  however,  a  short  composition 
in  the  second  part  of  his  immortal  "  Progress"  which  has 
very  long  been  used  in  some  of  the  Baptist  churches  in 
England  at  the  admission  of  members,  sometimes  with 
very  happy  effect.  If  the  reader  has  not  the  volume  at 
hand,  he  will  be  pleased  to  see  it  transcribed : — 

"  Let  the  Most  Blessed  be  my  guide, 
If  it's  his  blessed  will, 
Up  to  his  gate,  into  his  fold, 
Up  to  his  holy  hill. 

"  And  let  him  never  suffer  me 
To  swerve  or  turn  aside 
From  his  free  grace  and  holy  ways, 
Whate'er  shall  me  betide. 

"And  let  him  gather  those  of  mine 
That  I  have  left  behind  : 
Lord,  make  them  pray  they  may  be  thine, 
With  all  their  heart  and  mind." 


REV.  GEORGE  BURDER. 

The  well-known  hymn, — 

"Lord,  dismiss  us  with  thy  blessing," 

was  written  by  the  Rev.  George  Burder,  who  was  born 
in  London  in  1752,  and  died  pastor  of  a  Congregational 


BISHOP    BURGESS.  105 

Church  in  that  city  in  1832.  He  was  apprenticed  to 
an  engraver,  but,  having  a  literary  taste,  he  learned 
short-hand,  and  so  reported  the  last  sermons  delivered 
in  London  by  the  Rev.  George  Whitefield.  He  was  or- 
dained at  twenty-five,  and  was  pastor  successively  in 
Lancaster,  Coventry,  and  London.  He  was  among  the 
founders  of  the  Religious  Tract  Society  and  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  to  the  latter  of  which  he  was  for 
many  years  the  gratuitous  secretary.  He  was  also  for 
many  years  the  editor  of  the  "  Ecangelical  Magazine"  as 
well  as  the  pastor  of  a  church.  The  hymn  to  which  we 
have  referred  was  first  issued  in  a  supplement  to  Dr. 
Watts's  Psalms  and  Hymns,  which  Mr.  Burder  published 
about  the  commencement  of  this  century. 


BISHOP  BURGESS. 


This  eminent  scholar,  the  author  of  several  of  our 
most  evangelical  hymns,  was  born  at  Providence,  R.I., 
in  1809,  and  graduated  at  Brown  University;  and,  after 
being  some  time  a  tutor  in  that  university,  he  went  to 
Europe,  and  studied  at  Gottingen,  Bonn,  and  Berlin. 
After  holding  the  rectorship  of  Christ  Church,  Hartford, 
Conn.,  for  thirteen  years,  he  was  in  1847  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Maine,  and  Bector  of  Gardiner,  in  that  State. 
Among  his  principal  works  are  "  The  Book  of  Psalms  in 
English  Verse,"  and  "  Pages  from  the  Ecclesiastical  His- 
tory of  New  England" 


106  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HVMNv 

REV.  RICHARD  BURNHAM. 

This  gentleman,  the  author  of  a  hymn  used  in  many 
of  our  conference  and  prayer  meetings, — 

"Jesus,  thou  art  the  sinner's  friend," 

was  born  in  1749,  and  in  1780  he  became  pastor  of  a 
Baptist  church  in  London,  and  ultimately  settled  with 
another  church,  of  the  same  denomination,  in  Grafton 
Street  in  that  city,  where,  after  about  thirty  years'  labor, 
he  died  in  1810.  His  life  was  a  checkered  scene  of  popu- 
larity and  trials;  but  his  biographer  tells  us  he  "died  in 
peace." 

In  the  preface  to  his  hymn-book,  Mr.  Burnham  says 
to  the  members  of  his  church,  "  Your  pastor  is  willing 
to  own  that  he  is  the  unworthiest  of  the  unworthy; 
yet,  unworthy  as  he  is,  he  humbly  trusts,  through  rich 
grace,  he  has  in  some  measure  found  that  the  dear 
bosom  of  the  atoning  Lamb  is  the  abiding-place  of  his 
immortal  soul." 


ROBERT  BURNS. 

AVe  have  a  very  few  hymns  from  the  pen  of  this  gifted 
man  in  some  of  our  books;  and  but  very  few  did  he  write 
suitable  for  the  holy  purpose  of  praising  God.  We  have 
no  disposition  to  depreciate  his  extraordinary  talents, 
but  he  never  even  laid  claim  to  a  single  moral  qualifica- 
tion for  a  poet  of  God's  sanctuary.     AVe  most  love  the 


THOMAS   CAMPBELL.  107 

hymns  with  the  spirits  of  whose  authors  we  can  hold 
fellowship  as  we  sing  the  overflowings  of  their  souls. 

Chambers,  in  his  "Life  of  Burns,"  says,  "It  is  a  re- 
markable fact  that  the  mass  of  the  poetry  which  has 
given  this  extraordinary  man  his  principal  fame  burst 
from  him  in  a  comparatively  small  space  of  time, — cer- 
tainly not  exceeding  fifteen  months.  It  began  to  flow 
of  a  sudden,  and  it  ran  in  one  impetuous,  brilliant  stream, 
till  it  seemed  to  have  become,  comparatively  speaking, 
exhausted." 

Alas  that  of  this  man  his  first  biographer  and  most 
charitable  friend  was  compelled  to  write,  "  Only  a  few 
months  from  his  death  he  would  proceed  from  a  sick- 
room to  dine  at  a  tavern,  return  home  about  three 
o'clock  in  a  very  cold  morning,  benumbed  and  intoxi- 
cated, and  by  that  process  he  hastened  or  developed  the 
disease  which  laid  him  in  his  grave."  He  knew  only  the 
poetry  of  religion. 


THOMAS  CAMPBELL, 


The  author  of  two  or  three  hymns,  including, — 
"When  Jordan  hushed  his  waters  still," 

was  the  son  of  a  merchant  in  Glasgow,  where  he  was 
born  in  1777.  In  1798  he  published  his  "  Pleasures  of 
Hope"  for  the  copyright  of  which  he  received  twenty 
pounds;  but  when  the  work  acquired  popularity  his 
publisher  generously  paid  him  fifty  pounds  on  each  edi- 


108 


AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 


lion.  His  "  Gertrude  of  Wyoming"  "  Specimens  of  British 
Poets,"  and  several  prose  works,  followed  each  other 
in  due  course,  and  commanded  high  respect  for  their 
correctness  and  beaut}-.  Mr.  Campbell  was  often  called 
on  by  visitors  from  the  United  States,  who  admired  his 
exact  and  beautiful  description  of  our  own  'Wyoming 
Valley.  He  died  at  Boulogne  in  1844.  Mr.  Campbell 
did  not,  we  believe,  profess  evangelical  religion. 


REV.  JOHN  CAWOOD. 

This  evangelical  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England 
was  educated  at  St.  John's  Hall,  in  the  University  of  Ox- 
ford, after  which  he  became  Perpetual  Curate  at  Bewdley. 
Besides  his  hymns,  he  has  published  "  On  the  Dissenting 
Controversy"  and  three  volumes  of  sermons,  which  Bick- 
ersteth  describes  as  "forcible,  impressive,  and  evan- 
gelical." 


REV.  RICHARD  CECIL. 

"We  have  in  some  of  our  books  a  short  hymn  begin- 
ning,— 

"  Cease  here  longer  to  detain  me," 

which  was  written  b}-  the  Rev.  Richard  Cecil,  once  cu- 
rate to  the  Rev.  John  Xewton,  of  London,  and  after- 
ward the  predecessor  of  Dr.  Wilson,  the  late  Bishop  of 


THOMAS   VON  CELANO.  109 

Calcutta,  as  minister  of  St.  John's  Chapel,  Bedford  Kow, 
also  in  London.  The  whole  hymn,  extending  to  seven 
or  eight  verses,  was  written  on  the  death  of  an  infant  at 
the  dawn  of  the  day,  the  motto  being  the  language  of 
the  angel  wrestling  with  Jacob,  "Let  me  go,  for  the  day 
breaketh." 

Mr.  Cecil  was  born  in  London  in  1748,  and  died  in 
1810.  He  was  a  highly-respectable  author,  but  shone 
most  brightly  in  the  pulpit.  His  style  of  preaching 
partook  largely  of  originality  and  pious  feeling.  His 
ideas,  like  the  rays  of  the  sun,  carried  their  own  light 
with  them.  Images  and  illustrations  were  at  his  com- 
mand, and  rendered  his  discourses  not  only  instructive 
but  fascinating.     They  were  living  pictures. 


THOMAS  VON  CELANO. 

The  celebrated  Latin  hymn  "  Dies  Irce"  was  written 
in  the  thirteenth  century  by  Thomas  Yon  Celano,  a 
Minorite.  It  has  very  often  been  translated  into  the 
English  language,  first  by  the  old  poet  Crashaw  soon 
after  his  secession  from  the  Protestant  Church,  and  since 
then  by  not  less  than  seventy  others,  some  of  whose 
versions  are  noticed  at  great  length  by  Dr.  W.  E.  Wil- 
liams in  his  valuable  volume  of  "Miscellanies."  We  are 
not  aware,  however,  of  any  version  of  this  hymn  in 
our  commonly-used  hymn-books  except  the  greatly-con- 
densed one  by  Sir  Walter  Scott, — 

10 


110  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

"That  day  of  wrath,  that  dreadful  day,"  etc., 

which  his  son-in-law  and  biographer,  Mr.  Lockhart,  says 
was  often  on  his  lips  during  his  last  sickness. 

Tholuck,  the  distinguished  German  preacher,  had  once 
preached  in  the  University  church  on  the  repentance 
and  pardon  of  the  thief  on  the  cross;  and  of  that  oc- 
casion, in  a  note  to  his  printed  sermon,  the  preacher 
says,  "  This  is  the  second  time  that  this  hymn  of  the 
University  church-service  has  been  sung  to  the  very 
excellent  tune  composed  by  the  music-director,  Mr.  Naue. 
The  impression,  especially  that  which  was  made  by  the 
last  words  as  sung  by  the  University  choir  alone,  will 
be  forgotten  by  no  one."  Lord  Koscommon,  it  is  said, 
died  while  repeating  with  great  energy  and  devotion 
two  lines  of   his  own  translation  of  this  remarkable 

hymn, — 

"  My  God,  my  Father  and  my  Friend, 
Do  not  forsake  me  in  my  end." 

And  Dr.  Park,  of  Andover,  tells  us  of  a  clergyman  of 
our  own  country  who  could  not  hear  it  sung  in  his  own 
church  without  tears. 

Sir  Walter  Scott,  writing  to  a  brother  poet,  Crabbe, 
says  of  this  majestic  hymn,  "To  my  Gothic  ear,  the 
Stabat  Mater,  the  Dies  Irce,  and  some  other  of  the  hymns 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  are  more  solemn  and  affecting 
than  the  fine,  classical  poetry  of  Buchanan.  The  one 
has  the  gloomy  dignity  of  the  Gothic  Church,  and  re- 
minds us  constantly  of  the  worship  to  which  it  is  dedi- 
cated ;  the  other  is  more  like  a  pagan  temple,  recalling 


REV.   JOHN    CENNICK.  Ill 

to  our  memory  the  classical  and  fabulous  deities."  It  is 
said  that  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  could  never,  on  account  of 
his  tears,  repeat  this  composition  in  the  original.  And 
we  scarcely  need  to  add  that  upon  the  Dies  Irce  Mozart 
founded  his  celebrated  Kequiem, — in  the  composition  of 
which  his  excitement  became  so  great  as  to  hasten  his 
death.  Many  of  the  most  eminent  musical  celebrities 
have  "  sought  to  marry  its  poetry  to  immortal  melody." 

It  is  said  that  the  original  draft  of  the  Dies  Irce  was 
found  in  a  box  belonging  to  Celano  after  his  death.  He 
died  in  1253. 

Since  writing  the  preceding  paragraphs,  we  have  ob- 
served in  one  or  two  of  our  hymn-books  a  very  greatly- 
condensed  translation  of  the  Dies  Irce,  in  four  verses,  by 
an  anonymous  hand.     It  begins, — 

"  On  that  great,  that  awful  day." 

It  is  beautifully  and  effectively  executed. 


REV.  JOHN  CENNICK. 

"Jesus,  thy  blood  and  righteousness," 

has  long  been  a  favorite  hymn  among  all  classes  of 
evangelical  Christians ;  and  probably  this  is  one  reason 
why  its  authorship  has  been  disputed.  In  many  of  our 
books  it  is  attributed  to  Charles  Wesley.  Mr.  Creamer 
contends  that  it  is  a  translation  from  a  German  hymn 
of  twenty  verses,  written   by  Count   Zinzendorf,  and 


112  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

translated  by  John  Wesley ;  but  it  has  been  more  com- 
monly regarded  as  the  composition  of  John  Cennick,  by 
turns  a  follower  of  Wesley,  then  of  Whitefield,  and  finally 
dying  in  the  fellowship  and  ministry  of  the  Moravians. 
It  has  been  very  much  abridged. 

This  hymn  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  late  Eev. 
Rowland  Hill;  and  perhaps  the  history  of  the  Church 
presents  few  scenes  of  deeper  interest  than  the  fact  that, 
when  the  corpse  of  that  extraordinary  clergyman  was 
being  lowered  into  its  final  resting-place,  under  his  own 
pulpit,  in  the  presence  of  assembled  thousands  bathed 
in  tears,  the  second  verse  of  this  hymn  was  sung,  in  slow 
and  solemn  tones  : — 

"When  from  the  dust  of  death  I  rise 
To  claim  my  mansion  in  the  skies, 
E'en  then  shall  this  be  all  my  plea, — 
Jesus  hath  lived  and  died  for  me." 

Cennick  wrote  also  the  hymns, — 

"  Jesus,  my  all,  to  heaven  is  gone," 
"  Children  of  the  heavenly  King," 

and  several  others. 


REV.  E.  H.  CHAPIN,  D.D. 

This  well-known  writer  of  several  popular  hymns  is 
a  celebrated  Universalist  clergyman.  He  was  born  in 
the  State  of  New  York  in  1814,  and,  after  having  studied 
for  the   law,  entered  the  ministry,  and  has  officiated 


CHARLEMAGNE.  113 

as  pastor  of  Universalist  societies  at  Richmond,  Va., 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  Boston,  and  New  York.  In  addi- 
tion to  a  collection  of  hymns,  he  has  published  several 
volumes  in  prose,  and  is  well  known  as  a  distinguished 
and  popular  lecturer. 


CHARLEMAGNE. 

This  great  man  is  usually  supposed  to  be  the  author 
of  the  "  Veni  Creator/'  the  translation  of  which, — 

"Creator  Spirit,  by  whose  aid," 
can  scarcely  be  unknown  to  the  reader.  The  fact  of 
Charlemagne  being  its  author  has,  however,  been  doubted 
by  Mohnike,  who  says  the  emperor  could  not  have  had 
sufficient  acquaintance  with  the  Latin  tongue  to  write 
so  classical  a  composition.  But  he  who  was  the  patron 
of  Latin  letters  and  the  friend  of  Alcuin,  and  who  par- 
doned Paulus  Diaconus  for  his  conspiracy  to  murder 
him  because  he  would  not  cut  off  one  who  wrote  so  ele- 
gantly, may  fairly  be  supposed  capable  of  dictating  a 
Latin  hymn, — though  he  was  probably  indebted  to  some 
better  scribe  than  himself  to  write  it  down. 

"While  we  thus  write,  it  is  but  justice  to  say  that  ALoh- 
nike's  opinion  is  never  to  be  treated  with  lightness.  He 
believes  the  hymn  to  have  been  written  by  Gregory  the 
Great,  Bishop  of  Rome,  a.d.  590,  who  is  described  by 
Neander   as   the   last  of   the   classical   doctors  of   the 

Church.     He  was  a  man  of  great  piety  and  learning, 

10* 


114  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    01    BTMH6, 

though  of  course  led  away  by  some  of  the  errors  which 
had  already  flooded  the  Church. 


REV.  INGRAM  COBBIN. 

Our  hymn-books  contain  a  very  few  of  the  composi- 
tions of  our  old  personal  friend,  to  whose  memory  the 
pen  of  biography  is  largely  indebted.  He  was  born  of 
humble  and  pious  parentage  in  the  city  of  London  in 
1777,  and  in  early  life  was  attracted  by  the  charms  both 
of  religion  and  of  learniDg.  Some  verses  which  he  then 
composed  gained  the  attention  of  the  Rev.  Matthew 
Wilks,  who  introduced  him  to  the  Congregational  Col- 
lege then  at  Hoxton.  In  1802  he  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry,  and,  though  in  feeble  health,  he  laboriously  and 
usefully  exerted  himself  as  a  pastor.  After  some  years, 
however,  he  relinquished  permanently,  as  was  supposed, 
the  ministry,  through  the  failure  of  his  health;  but 
after  a  time  hope  of  usefulness  in  this  department  of 
holy  labor  returned,  and  he  accepted  a  call  from  a  church 
at  Crediton,  where  he  was  installed,  but  could  not 
deliver  a  single  sermon  after  that  aj^parently  joyous 
eveat.  Relinquishing  his  fond  labors,  he  became  the 
founder  and  for  many  years  the  secretary  of  the  [Lon- 
don] Home  Missionary  Society;  but  sickness  compelled 
him  to  relinquish  this  also  in  1828.  His  mental  energies 
being  yet  unimpaired,  he  devoted  himself  to  the  com- 
pilation of  a  number  of  invaluable  biblical  works,  in- 


REV.    W.    B.    COLLYER,      D.D.,    LL.D.  115 

eluding  his  "  Domestic  Bible/'  well  known  and  esteemed 
among  us.     He  died  in  his  seventy-fourth  year,  in  1851. 


REV.  W.  B.  COLLYER,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

The  hymn, 

"  Return,  0  wanderer,  return," 

and  many  others  in  our  hymn-books,  are  the  compo- 
sitions of  the  Rev.  W.  B.  Collyer,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  who  died 
in  1854,  and  who  for  more  than  half  a  century  was  by 
far  the  most  popular  Nonconformist  minister  in  Eng- 
land. He  was  almost  the  only  dissenting  minister  heard 
by  royalty, — to  whom,  as  to  all  others,  he  preached  in 
the  most  faithful  manner  the  doctrines  of  the  cross,  in  a 
style  combining  simple  elegance,  fervent  feeling,  and  an 
indomitable  adherence  to  "  the  truth  as  in  Jesus." 

Among  the  many  volumes  which  in  the  early  and 
middle  stages  of  his  life  proceeded  from  Dr.  Collyer's 
j>en,  was  a  volume  of  hymns  selected  and  arranged  for 
public  worship,  containing  not  a  few  of  great  beauty 
written  by  himself.  In  addition  to  these,  he  wrote  very 
many  which  were  never  printed.  Nearly  to  the  close 
of  his  ministry,  after  his  Sunday  morning  sermons,  in 
imitation  of  the  excellent  Dr.  Doddridge,  he  always 
read  a  hymn  written  during  the  preceding  week  founded 
on  his  text,  which  was  sung  by  his  congregation,  and  by 
many  of  them  copied  as  he  read  two  lines  at  a  time  to 
enable  them  to  sing.     Not  a  few  of  these  he  gave  at 


116  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

different  times,  from  feelings  of  warm  friendship,  to  the 
writer  of  this  volume,  which  in  various  periodicals  were 
given  to  the  public.  May  peace  rest  on  his  happy- 
memory! 


JOSIAH  CONDER, 


This  excellent  writer  of  hymns  and  editor  of  the  Eng- 
lish Congregational  Hymn-Book  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  body,  and  was  distinguished  through  a 
long  life  for  sound  learning,  fine  taste,  earnest  piety,  and 
untiring  industry.  He  was  born  in  1790,  and  died  in 
London  in  1855.  For  many  years  he  was  the  editor  of 
the  "Eclectic  Review"  and  was  thus  associated  with 
Robert  Hall,  John  Foster,  Kalph  "Wardlaw,  and  other 
distinguished  men  of  that  day.  Over  the  grave  of 
this  worthy  man  we  drop  a  grateful  tear,  remembering 
him  as  a  good  occasional  preacher,  a  sweet  poet,  and 
a  cordial  friend.  The  Christian  and  literary  friends  of 
Mr.  Conder  have  recently  erected  a  monument  to  his 
memory,  at  an  expense  of  more  than  five  hundred  dollars. 


REV.  THOMAS  COTTERILL, 

The  author  of  the  well-known  missionary  hymn, — 

"O'er  the  realms  of  pagan  darkness," 
and  of  one  or  two  others  used  among  us,  was  an  excel- 


117 

lent  minister  of  the  Episcopal  Church,  settled  in  Shef- 
field, where  also  resided  his  intimate  personal  friend, 
James  Montgomery,  who  says  of  him,  "  Good  Mr.  Cot- 
terill  and  I  bestowed  a  great  deal  of  care  and  labor  in 
the  compilation  of  *  The  Sheffield  Hymn-Book,'  clipping, 
interlining,  and  remodelling  hymns  of  all  sorts  as  we 
thought  we  could  correct  the  sentiment  or  improve  the 
expression.  We  so  altered  some  of  Cowper's  that  the 
poet  would  hardly  know  them."  Every  one  knows  that 
Montgomery  lived  to  complain  sadly  of  this  conduct  in 
reference  to  some  of  his  own  hymns,  calling  it  "the 
cross  by  which  every  author  of  a  hymn  may  expect  to 
be  tested,  at  the  pleasure  of  any  Christian  brother,  how- 
ever incompetent." 


NATHANIEL  COTTON,  M.D. 

This  gentleman  is  supposed  to  be  the  author  of  the 
truly  experimental  hymn,^ — 

"  Affliction  is  a  stormy  deep." 

He  was  an  English  physician,  born  in  1707,  and  died 
in  1788.  He  was  remarkably  successful  in  the  treatment 
of  insanity,  keeping  a  private  asylum  for  such  patients 
at  St.  Alban's,  having,  among  many  others,  the  amia- 
ble poet  Cowper,  who  says  of  him,  "  He  is  truly  a  phi- 
losopher, according  to  my  judgment  of  the  character, 
every  tittle  of  his  knowledge  in  natural  subjects  being 
connected  in  his  mind  with  the  firm  belief  in  an  omni- 


118  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

potent   agent."     His  works   in   prose   and  verse  were 
printed  in  two  duodecimo  volumes  in  1791. 


WILLIAM  COWPER. 


The  facts  of  Cowper's  history  are  too  well  known  to 
render  it  necessary  that  we  should  here  detail  them. 
He  was  the  son  of  an  English  clergyman,  who  was  a 
chaplain  to  George  the  Second  and  rector  of  Berkhamp- 
stead,  where  William  was  born  in  1731.  He  grew 
up  so  timid  and  nervous  that  he  was  never  able  to  en- 
gage in  any  profession,  became  deranged,  and  was  con- 
fined in  an  asylum  for  many  months.  He  was  an  ex- 
quisite poet ;  and  poetry  became  his  almost  constant  oc- 
cupation till  his  death  in  1800. 

The  favorite  residences  of  the  poet  at  Olney  and 
Weston,  the  houses  in  which  his  chief  labors  were  per- 
formed, are  still  objects  of  interest,  not  only  to  English- 
men, but  to  Americans  visiting  that  land.  The  one  at 
Olney  still  stands  in  the  same  ruinous  state  in  which  he 
so  humorously  described  it ;  and  the  parlor  is  now  occu- 
pied by  a  girls'  school.  The  summer-house  in  the  garden, 
in  which  he  used  to  sit  conning  his  verses,  also  remains, 
the  walls  being  covered  with  the  names  of  visitors.  His 
residence  in  the  neighboring  village  of  Weston  has  been 
much  altered,  but  is  still  beautiful,  with  a  profusion  of 
roses  around  it. 


WILLIAM    COWPER.  119 

Where  is  the  Christian  who  has  not  read  and  sung 
with  holy  profit  and  delight  Cowper's  hymn, — 

"  God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way"  ? 

Its  original  title — "  Light  Shining  out  of  Darkness" — 
had  reference  to  its  remarkable  origin.  When  under 
the  influence  of  the  fits  of  mental  derangement  to  which 
he  was  subject,  he  most  unhappily  but  firmly  believed 
that  the  divine  will  was  that  he  should  drown  himself 
in  a  particular  part  of  the  river  Ouse,  some  two  or  three 
miles  from  his  residence  at  Olney.  He  one  evening 
called  for  a  post-chaise  from  one  of  the  hotels  in  the 
town,  and  ordered  the  driver  to  take  him  to  that  spot, 
which  he  readily  undertook  to  do,  as  he  well  knew  it. 
On  this  occasion,  however,  several  hours  were  consumed 
in  seeking  it,  and  utterly  in  vain.  The  man  was  at 
length  most  reluctantly  compelled  to  admit  that  he 
had  entirely  lost  his  road.  The  snare  was  thus  broken : 
Cowper  escaped  the  temptation :  he  returned  to  his 
home,  and  immediately  sat  down  and  wrote  a  hymn 
which  has  ministered  comfort  to  thousands,  and  will 
probably  yet  afford  consolation  to  thousands  of  others, 
even  for  generations  to  come. 

Mr.  Montgomery  says  of  this  hymn  that  it  "is  a 
lyric  of  high  tone  and  character,  and  rendered  awfully 
interesting  by  the  circumstances  under  which  it  was 
written, — in  the  twilight  of  departing  reason." 

Every  one  knows  that  the  admirable  hymn, — 
"Oh  for  a  closer  walk  with  God," 


120  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

was  also  written  by  the  amiable  Cowper,  when  under 
much  darkness  of  soul,  in  one  of  the  intervals  between 
his  seasons  of  deep  melancholy.  Every  Christian  who 
has  made  even  but  little  progress  in  the  olivine  life  can 
testify  to  the  correctness  of  its  experimental  theology ; 
and  we  would  hope  that  few  persons  are  disposed  to 
imitate  Dr.  Southey,  who  intimates  that  the  composition 
of  the  "  Olney  Hymns"  in  connection  with  his  friend  the 
Rev.  John  Newton,  tended  to  bring  back  the  renewal  of 
his  insanity  in  1773.  Nay,  after  blaming  Newton  for 
what  he  regarded  as  his  injudicious  conduct  in  having  en- 
gaged Cowper  in  such  a  deeply-interesting  employment, 
he  quotes  two  verses  of  this  hymn  as  a  proof  of  his 
supposed  danger  of  a  return  to  insanity : — 

"Where  is  the  blessedness  I  knew 
When  first  I  saw  the  Lord  ? 
Where  is  the  soul-refreshing  view 
Of  Jesus  and  his  word  ? 

"  What  peaceful  hours  I  once  enjoyed ! 
How  sweet  their  memory  still ! 
But  they  have  left  an  aching  void 
The  world  can  never  fill." 

Truly  has  the  apostle  said,  "  The  natural  man  receiveth 
not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  for  they  are  foolish- 
ness unto  him ;  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they 
are  [only]  spiritually  discerned." 

The  beautiful  hymn  of  Cowper, — 

"  How  blest  thy  creature  is,  0  God !" 
is  said  by  his  biographers  to  have  been  the  very  first  he 


WILLIAM    COWPER.  121 

wrote  on  his  recovery  at  St.  Alban's  from  his  second  at- 
tack of  insanity.  He  entitled  it  the  "Happy  Change;" 
and  no  one  can  read  it,  with  its  origin  in  view,  without 
being  struck  with  its  beauty. 

But  the  second  strain  in  which  he  poured  forth  the 
grateful  feelings  of  his  heart, — 

"  Far  from  the  world,  0  Lord,  I  flee," 

is  perhaps  sweeter  still.  Indeed,  as  Dr.  Cheever  remarks, 
"  it  is  beyond  comparison  more  perfect, — it  is  exquisitely, 
sacredly,  devoutly  beautiful." 

Dr.  Cheever  throws  additional  beauty  on  this  compo- 
sition by  describing  to  us  the  location  in  which  it  was 
written.  He  had  gone  from  St.  Alban's  to  Hunting- 
don, passing  his  whole  time  on  the  way  in  silent  com- 
munion with  God.  He  says,  "It  is  impossible  to  tell 
with  how  delightful  a  sense  of  his  protection  and  fa- 
therly care  of  me  it  pleased  the  Almighty  to  favor  me 
during  the  whole  of  my  journey."  Left  alone  by  his 
brother  for  the  first  time  among  strangers,  his  heart 
began  to  sink  within  him,  and  he  wandered  forth  into 
the  fields,  melancholy  and  desponding,  at  the  close  of 
the  day,  but,  like  Isaac  at  eventide,  found  his  heart  so 
powerfully  drawn  to  God  that,  having  found  a  secluded 
spot  beneath  a  bank  of  shrubbery  and  verdure,  he 
kneeled  down  and  poured  forth  his  whole  soul  in  prayer 
and  praise.  It  pleased  the  Saviour  to  hear  him,  and  to 
grant  him  at  once  a  renewTed  sense  of  his  presence,  de- 
liverance from  his  fears,  and  a  sweet  assurance  that, 

11 


122 


AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    <»*•    BYMNS. 


wherever  his  lot  might  be  cast,  the  God  of  all  consola- 
tion would  still  be  with  him. 

The  next  day  was  the  Sabbath,  and  he  attended 
church  for  the  first  time  since  his  recovery, — that  is,  for 
nearly  two  years, — and  found  the  house  of  God  to  be  the 
very  gate  to  heaven.  He  could  scarcely  restrain  his 
emotions  during  the  service,  so  fully  did  he  see  the 
beauty  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord.  A  person  with  whom 
he  afterward  became  acquainted  sat  near  him,  devoutly 
engaged  in  worship ;  and  Cowper  loved  him  for  the  ear- 
nestness of  his  manner.  He  says,  "  While  he  was  sing- 
ing the  psalms  I  looked  at  him ;  and,  observing  him  intent 
upon  his  holy  employment,  I  could  not  help  saying  in 
my  heart,  with  much  emotion,  '  The  Lord  bless  you  for 
praising  Him  whom  my  soul  loveth  !'  n 

After  church  he  immediately  hastened  to  the  solitary 
place  where  he  had  found  such  sacred  enjoyment  in 
prayer  the  day  before.  "  How,"  he  exclaims,  "  shall  I 
express  what  the  Lord  did  for  me,  except  by  saying  that 
he  made  all  his  goodness  to  pass  before  me  ?  I  seemed 
to  speak  to  him  face  to  face,  as  a  man  converseth  with 
his  friend,  except  that  my  speech  was  only  in  tears  of 
joy,  and  groanings  which  cannot  be  uttered.  I  could 
say  indeed,  with  Jacob,  not  how  dreadful,  but  how  lovely 
is  this  place  ! — this  is  none  other  than  the  house  of  God." 

There,  in  this  sacred  spot  and  in  the  deep  bliss  of  such 
experience,  is  the  very  locality  and  atmosphere  of  that 
perfectly  beautiful  hymn.  There  was  the  "  calm  retreat," 
there  the  unwitnessed  praise,  there  the  holy  commu- 


WILLIAM    COWPER.  123 

nion  with  the  Saviour  by  which  ho  prepared  his  servant 
to  pour  forth  the  gratitude  of  a  redeemed  spirit  in  strains 
which  will  be  sung  by  the  Church  on  earth  till  the  whole 
Church  sing  in  heaven. 

We  may  add  here  that  probably  the  happiest  period 
of  Cowper's  whole  life  was  from  1765,  the  time  of  his 
first  recovery  from  insanity,  till  1773,  the  time  of  its 
recurrence.  During  this  period  he  composed  his  portion 
of  the  "  Olney  Hymns."  Dr.  Cheever  well  says,  "  If 
Cowper  had  never  given  to  the  Church  on  earth  but  a 
single  score  of  those  exquisite  breathings  of  a  pious 
heart  and  creations  of  his  own  genius,  it  had  been  a 
bequest  worth  a  life  of  suffering  to  accomplish.  The 
dates,  or  nearly  such,  of  some  of  those  pieces,  were 
preserved,  so  that  we  are  enabled  to  trace  them  to  the 
frames  and  circumstances  of  the  writer's  mind  and  heart, 
and  to  see  in  them  an  exact  reflection  of  his  own  expe- 
rience." 

We  have,  in  many  of  our  collections,  hymns  by  Cow- 
per beginning, — 

"  Oh,  most  delightful  hour  by  man," 

"He  lives  who  lives  to  God  alone," 

and  others  which  had  their  origin  in  a  way  alike  com- 
plimentary to  Cowper  and  useful  to  many.  The  power 
and  charm  of  his  good  sense  and  simplicity,  as  well  as 
the  tenderness  of  his  poetry,  were  acknowledged  when 
John  Cox,  the  clerk  of  All  Saints'  parish  in  Northamp- 
ton, a  few  miles  from  Weston,  came  to  him  with  a 
second    application    for    some    mortuary   verses   to   be 


124  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

printed  with  his  annual  Christmas  "  bill  of  mortality. " 
Cowper  told  him  there  must  be  plenty  of  poets  at  North- 
ampton, and  referred  him  particularly  to  his  namesake, 
Mr.  Cox,  the  statuary,  as  a  successful  wooer  of  the  muse. 
The  clerk  made  answer  that  all  this  was  very  true,  and 
he  had  already  borrowed  help  from  him,  adding,  "  But 
alas,  sir,  Mr.  Cox  is  a  gentleman  of  much  reading,  and 
the  people  of  our  town  do  not  well  understand  him.  He 
has  written  for  me,  but  nine  in  ten  of  us  were  stone- 
blind  to  his  meaning."  Cowper  felt  all  the  force  of  this 
equivocal  compliment :  his  mortified  vanity  came  near  re- 
fusing, if  the  merit  of  his  own  verses  was  considered  by 
the  smallness  of  his  reading ;  but,  finding  that  the  poor 
clerk  had  walked  over  to  Weston  on  purpose  to  implore 
his  assistance,  and  was  in  considerable  distress,  he  good- 
naturedly  consented,  and  supplied  the  clerk's  mortality- 
bill  with  his  beautiful  verses  for  several  years. 
Perhaps  the  beautiful  composition  by  Cowper, — 
"  No  longer  I  follow  a  sound," 
is  to  be  found  in  more  of  the  English  hymn-books 
than  our  own.  Its  origin  shows  how  the  amiable  poet 
loved,  even  in  his  hours  of  social  amusement,  to  dwell 
on  tender  devotion  and  pathetic  solemnity.  His  cousin, 
Lady  Austen,  was  fond  of  playing  on  the  harpsichord; 
and,  to  suit  several  of  her  favorite  airs,  he  wrote  Chris- 
tian hymns.  The  air  "  My  fond  shepherds  of  late"  was 
in  our  own  early  days  a  special  favorite  in  many  parties, 
and  Cowper's  lines  were  considered  remarkably  well 
adapted  to  it. 


WILLIAM    OOWPER.  125 

Cowper's  own  account,  in  a  letter  to  his  friend  Joseph 
Hill,  Esq.,  in  1789,  of  the  origin  of  his  beautiful  Sunday- 
school  hymn, — 

"  Hoar,  Lord,  the  song  of  praise  and  prayer," 

will  be  read  with  pleasure  : — "  My  friend  the  vicar  of  the 
next  parish  [Olney]  engaged  me,  the  day  before  yester- 
day, to  furnish  him  by  next  Sunday  with  a  hymn  to  be 
sung  on  occasion  of  his  preaching  to  the  children  of  the 
Sunday-school, — of  which  hymn  I  have  not  yet  produced 
a  syllable. " 

The  well-known  and  much-admired  hymn  of  Cowper, — 

"  To  Jesus,  the  crown  of  my  hope," 

is  not  to  be  found  in  the  "  Olney  Hymns"  as  it  was  not 
written  till  after  the  early  editions  of  that  work  had 
been  published.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  its  being  the 
production  of  his  pen,  or  that  it  was  the  last  hymn  he 
ever  wrote. 

To  very  many  of  our  readers  it  will  be  pleasant  to 
read  a  line  or  two  relating  to  Cow^per  from  the  pen  of 
the  world-renowned  theologian,  Andrew  Fuller: — "At 
Olney  he  continued  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  enjo}r- 
ment  of  religious  pleasures  to  a  degree  seldom  known ; 
uniting  in  social  prayer-meetings  with  Mr.  Newton  and 
his  friends,  to  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  all  that 
heard  him.  I  knew  a  person  who  heard  him  pray  fre- 
quently at  these  meetings,  and  have  heard  him  say,  '  Of 
all  the  men  that  I  ever  heard  pray,  no  one  equalled  Mr. 
Cowper.'  " 

11* 


126  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HVMNS. 

The  reader  who  remembers  that  the  "  Olney  Hymns/' 
the  joint  compositions  of  Newton  and  Cowper,  were 
written  for  these  very  prayer-meetings,  will  see  the  con- 
nection of  this  extract  with  the  design  of  our  volume. 


REV.  A.  C.  COXE,  D.D. 

This  gentleman,  who  has  favored  us  with  several 
original  hymns,  besides  others  translated  from  the  Ger- 
man, was  born  in  Mendham,  New  Jersey,  1818,  and  gra- 
duated at  the  University  of  New  York.  He  has  acquired 
great  reputation  for  classical  and  poetical  talents,  and 
has  already  published  many  valuable  works,  especially 
of  a  poetical  character.  Dr.  Coxe  is  connected  with  the 
Episcopal  Church. 


REV.  W.  CROSSWELL,  D.D. 

Several  beautiful  hymns  have  been  given  us  from  the 
pen  of  this  excellent  clergyman  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
He  was  born  in  1804,  and  was  rector  of  Christ's  Church, 
Boston,  St.  Peter's  Church,  Auburn,  in  the  State  of  New 
York,  and  afterward  became  rector  of  the  Church  of  the 
Advent  in  Boston,  where  he  died  in  1851.  He  was  a  scholar, 
and  possessed  a  fine  taste  in  literature.  Among  his  poems 
are  several  of  remarkable  gracefulness  and  sweetness. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Crosswell  was  solemn  and  affecting. 


ROBERT    CRUTTENDEN.  127 

While  engaged  in  the  public  Sabbath-afternoon  service, 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  last  collect,  instead  of  rising 
from  his  knees,  he  sank  upon  the  floor,  whence  he  was 
removed  to  his  own  house,  where  he  soon  after  ceased 
to  breathe.  His  memoir  and  remains  were  published, 
after  his  decease,  in  New  York. 

Among  the  compositions  of  Dr.  Crosswell  was  tho 
beautiful  hymn, — 

"Lord,  lead  the  way  the  Saviour  went," 

which  was  written  for  an  anniversary  of  the  Howard 
Benevolent  Society  in  the  city  of  Boston. 


ROBERT  CRUTTENDEN, 

The  author  of  the  hymn, — 

"Let  others  boast  their  ancient  line," 

and  several  others  in  our  older  books,  was  a  correspond- 
ent and  friend  of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Doddridge,  the  Eev. 
James  Hervey,  and  Lady  Huntingdon.  He  resided  in 
London,  and  his  great  intelligence  and  generous  hospi- 
tality rendered  his  house  the  frequent  resort  of  many 
of  the  literati  of  that  day.  One  of  his  grandsons  was, 
a  few  years  since,  Archdeacon  of  London. 

Though  Mr.  Cruttenden  was  educated  for  the  minis- 
try, and  often  in  early  life  preached  for  his  uncle,  the 
Eev.  Eobert  Bragge,  of  Lime  St.,  London,  he  renounced 
that  profession,  conscious  of  his  entire  destitution  of 


123  A I  TU"KS    AM>    ('UK. IN    OF    HYMNS. 

genuine  piety.  Indeed,  the  happy  event  of  his  conver- 
sion did  not  take  place  till  bis  fifty-second  year,  under 
the  powerful  ministry  of  the  distinguished  John  Cen- 
nick, — the  account  of  which  he  afterward  published, 
with  a  prelaee  by  AYhitefield.  He  died  in  1763,  aged 
seventy-three.  "When  writing  to  Mr.  Keen,  Whiteiield 
lays,  -  Mr*  Cruttenden,  I  find,  is  gone.  God  be  praised 
that  he  went  off  so  comfortably  !  May  our  expiring 
hour  be  like  hif 


REV.  J.  W.  CUNNINGHAM. 

This  truly  venerable  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land was  the  author  of  the  hymn, — 

"  Dear  is  the  hallowed  morn  to  me," 

which  has  elevated  the  devotion  of  thousands  on  the 
Lord's  day  morning.  Like  the  rest  of  his  hymns,  it  is 
highly  evangelical.  >Ve  remember,  some  forty  years  ago, 
when  he  did  not  cherish  the  scripturally  affectionate  feel- 
ings toward  his  dissenting  brethren  which  now  glow  in 
his  soul,  but  when  controversial  publications  indicated  his 
displeasure  that  they  forsook  his  church  and  cherished 
"  the  religion  of  barns."  ^Nearness  to  Christ  has  brought 
him  nearer  to  his  brethren ;  and  often  since  that  period 
has  he  co-operated  in  the  common  cause  of  Christ  with 
all  who  love  Him.  For  many  years  Mr.  Cunningham 
was  engaged  as  Head  Master  of  Harrow  School,  in  pre- 
paring young  men  for  college;  and,  when  he   shall  be 


REV.    THOMAS    DALE.  129 

called  away  from  earth,  hundreds  of  these  shall  unite  in 
shedding  a  tear  of  grateful  love  over  his  dust,  with  not 
a  few  who  have  communed  with  his  spirit  as  they  have 
sung  his  hymns. 


REV.  S.  S.  CUTTING. 


This  gentleman,  now  a  professor  in  the  University  of 
Rochester,  has  long  been  a  marked  man  as  a  preacher, 
an  author,  and  a  journalist  amoDg  the  Baptists.  His 
hymns,  which  are  not  numerous,  are  good,  and  lead  us 
to  wish  that  we  had  more  of  them.  As  Professor  Cut- 
ting has  not  yet  advanced  beyond  the  meridian  of  life, 
we  may  cherish  the  hope  of  our  wish  being  gratified. 


REV.  THOMAS  DALE. 

Our  books  contain  a  very  few  hymns  from  the  pen 
of  this  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  the  son 
of  a  respectable  bookseller  in  London,  who  removed  with 
the  other  members  of  his  family  to  this  country,  leaving 
Thomas  under  the  care  of  his  maternal  uncles.  He 
received  a  fine  education  in  Christ's  Hospital,  London, 
and  went  to  the  University  at  Cambridge  in  1818, 
taking  his  bachelor's  degree  in  1823.  Here  he  devoted 
himself  to  general  literature,  and  published  his  first 
poem,  "  The  Widow  of  Nain"  in  1819.     His  intellect  is 


130  AUTHOBfl    AM)    OllKilN    01    1IVMNS. 

of  a  high  order,  his  theology  entirely  evangelical,  and 
his  p&fltoraj  assiduity  heyond  all  praise. 

The  poetry  of  Mr.  Dale  is  elegant.  While  it  has  no 
majestic  flow,  it  resembles  a  beautiful  rivulet  in  a  delight- 
ful landscape  :  it  runs  smooth,  is  always  clear,  and  some- 
times sparkles  in  the  sunlight.  We  never  think  of  Mr. 
Dale  or  his  compositions  without  pleasure. 


REV.  PRESIDENT  DAVIES. 

The  well-known  admirable  preacher,  Samuel  Davies, 
a  native  of  Newcastle,  Delaware,  who  succeeded  Presi- 
dent Edwards  at  Princeton  in  1759,  wrote  several  excel- 
lent hymns,  one  of  which, — 

"Great  God  of  wonders,  all  thy  ways," 

was  long  extensively  used  both  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe.  It  is  true  that  he  was  more  remarkable  as  a 
preacher  than  a  poet;  but  we  cannot  forbear  an  expres- 
sion of  regret  that  this  truly  evangelical  hymn  has  given 
place  to  some  very  far  inferior.  He  ended  a  life  of  great 
usefulness  in  1761,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-six  years. 


REV.  ELIEL  DAVIS. 


About  the  year  1824  we  became  acquainted  with  this 
young  man,  the  son  of  a  gentleman  who  held  in  the 


REV.     I  >  A  \  I  I  >    M.MIAM.  131 

church  we  served  the  office  of  deacon,  and  who  was  also 
tke  schoolmaster  of  John  B.  Gough,  the  popular  lecturer 
on  temperance.  Soon  after  that  period  we  commenced, 
for  the  young  people  of  our  congregation,  a  monthly 
magazine  in  manuscript,  prepared  chiefly  by  the  young 
people  themselves.  While  studying  for  the  ministry, 
Eliel  Davis  often  wrote  for  the  " Mutual  Instructor"  and 
among  other  papers  was  the  hymn, — 

"From  every  earthly  pleasure." 

The  editor  of  a  popular  London  magazine  paying  us  a 
visit,  we  showed  it  to  him,  and  he  was  so  well  pleased 
with  it  that  he  copied  it  for  his  own  periodical;  and, 
having  thus  attracted"  the  attention  of  hymn-collectors, 
a  part  of  the  composition  has  appeared  in  hymn-books 
both  in  Europe  and  America.  Certainly  neither  its 
writer  nor  first  editor  imagined  the  honor  to  which  it 
was  destined.  "VYe  are  sorry  to  say  that  in  early  life  our 
talented  friend  was  suddenly  called  from  his  labors  to 
his  eternal  rest, — not,  however,  without  several  years' 
successful  labor  in  the  ministry  of  Divine  truth. 


REV.  DAVID  DENHAM. 

The  well-known  hymn  called  u Sweet  Home"  and  be- 
ginning— 

"  Mid  scenes  of  confusion  and  creature  complaints," 

was  written  by  the  Rev.  David  Denham,  an  English 


132  A l  TIIORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    UY.MN.v 

Baptist  minister,  who  died  a  very  few  years  ago.  He 
wafl  originally  connected  with  the  congregation  of  the 
Bev.  Dr.  Hawker,  and,  having  become  a  Baptist,  entered 
the  ministry,  and  labored  in  Margate,  London,  and  Chel- 
tenham. He  edited  a  hymn-book  bearing  his  own  name, 
but  wrote  most  of  his  poetry,  like  "  Sweet  Home/'  for 
some  of  the  religious  magazines  of  England. 


REV.  DAVID  DICKSON. 

Often  has  the  question  been  asked,  Who  wrote  the 
well-known  quaint  but  beautiful  hymn, — 

"Jerusalem,  my  happy  home," 

which  James  Montgomery  has  spoken  of  as  one  of  the 
finest  in  our  language  ?  It  is  a  great  favorite,  and  de- 
servedly so,  for  it  is  really  a  very  beautiful  composition. 
It  probably  appeared  for  the  first  time  in  a  collection 
of  hymns  published  by  Montgomery  himself;  and,  in 
spite  of  all  that  he  says  to  the  contrary,  we  have  heard 
it  strenuously  though  strangely  maintained  that  he 
was  its  author.  It  appears,  with  remarkable  varia- 
tions, in  a  volume  published  in  1693,  by  Burkitt,  the 
Expositor  of  the  Xew  Testament;  but  the  fact  that 
David  Dickson,  of  Edinburgh,  who  died  in  1662,  had  long 
before  printed  it,  as  containing  248  lines,  makes  it  im- 
possible that  it  should  be  Burkitt's,  and  much  less  Mont- 
gomery's.    A  manuscript  of  about  half  of  it,  with  con- 


REV.    DAVID    DICKSON.  133 

siderablo  variations,  as,  "A  Song  made  by  F.  B.  P., — 
to  the  Tune  Diana,"  proves  that  it  did  not  originate 
with  Dickson.  The  fact  is  that,  like  several  other  ad- 
mirable hj-nins,  it  may  be  traced  to  some  of  the  Latin 
compositions  of  the  middle  or  earlier  ages, — thus  show- 
ing how  even  the  darkest  times  may  contribute  to  the 
worship  of  the  Church  in  all  future  ages. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  after  all  this,  that  our  modern 
hymns,  though  like  the  old  ones  in  spirit,  feeling,  and 
manner,  have  scarcely  a  line  in  common  with  them. 

We  are  reminded  here  of  the  fact  that  in  Scotland 
this  hymn,  in  the  version  of  Dickson,  is  known  in  nearly 
every  house  and  sung  in  almost  every  family;  nor  is 
this  without  good  results.  A  few  years  ago,  a  Presby- 
terian minister  in  New  Orleans  was  sent  for  to  attend 
the  death-bed  of  a  young  man.  On  his  arrival,  he  found 
that  the  dying  man  was  a  native  of  North  Britain,  as 
well  as  himself;  but  he  endeavored  to  introduce  religious 
conversation  with  him  without  success ;  and,  the  more 
he  endeavored  to  accomplish  his  object,  the  more  deter- 
mined appeared  the  dying  man  not  to  converse  with 
him.  After  many  attempts,  the  clergyman,  almost  in 
despair,  left  the  bedside,  walked  toward  the  window, 
and  half  unconsciously  began  to  sing, — 

"Jerusalem,  my  happy  home." 

This  effectually  attracted  the  attention  of  the  dying 

youth,  who  at  once  called  out,  "  My  dear  mother  used 

to  sing  that  hymn/'  and,  bursting  into  tears,  acknow- 

12 


134  A1TIIORS    AND    ORICilN    OF    HYMNS. 

ledged  his  sinfulness,  and  inquired  the  way  of  salvation, 
— which  it  was  hoped  he  indeed  found.  Some  years  had 
passed  away  since  he  heard  that  hymn  sung;  but  its 
words  recalled  all  the  scenes  and  feelings  of  home,  and 
produced  results  which,  it  is  probable,  that  mother  had 
never  thought  of. 


BISHOP  DOANE. 


This  gentleman,  the  Protestant  Bishop  of  New  Jer- 
sey, who  has  contributed, — 

'Thou  art  the  Way,  to  thee  alone," 

and  two  or  three  other  hymns  for  the  use  of  Christian 
worshippers,  was  born  in  Trenton,  New  Jersey,  in  1799. 
He  graduated  at  Union  College,  Schenectady,  when 
nineteen  years  old,  and  immediately  afterward  com- 
menced the  study  of  theology.  He  was  consecrated 
Bishop  of  his  native  State  in  1832,  founded  St.  Mary's 
Hall  in  1827,  and  Burlington  College  in  1846.  He 
published  a  volume  of  poems  entitled  "Songs  by  the 
Way/'  and  many  sermons  and  tracts.     He  died  in  1859. 


REV.  PHILIP  DODDRIDGE,  D.D. 

"Who  has  not  been  charmed  with  the  devotional  hymns 
of  this  excellent  Protestant  Dissenting  minister,  so  many 


REV.    PHILIP   DODDRIDGE,   D.D.  135 

of  which  are  found  in  our  best  books?  Dr.  Stoughton 
has  well  described  them  as  "relics  choicely  transparent 
and  truly  rich."  These  valued  productions  were  not 
published  by  himself,  but  edited,  with  notes  explaining 
what  were  then  considered  "hard  words,"  by  the  Rev. 
Job  Orton,  who  was  also  one  of  his  students  and  his  ear- 
liest biographer.  To  this  gentleman  the  amiable  widow 
of  Doddridge  wrote,  on  May  4th,  1755,  "I  have  the 
pleasure  to  find,  so  far  as  this  book  has  yet  been  known, 
it  has  met  with  pretty  general  acceptance.  Many  of  my 
best  friends  consider  it  as  a  valuable  supplement  to  Dr. 
Watts's,  and,  as  such,  are  solicitous  to  introduce  it  into 
their  respective  congregations  along  with  his.  I  think 
I  can  truly  say  I  more  wish  this  may  be  generally  done 
from  the  hope  I  have  they  may  do  something  to  revive 
religion  in  the  world  than  from  any  personal  advantage." 
The  preparation  of  his  hymns  furnished  a  fine  illustra- 
tion of  Doddridge's  versatility  of  powers.  When  he  had 
finished  the  preparation  of  a  discourse,  and  while  his 
heart  was  still  warm  with  the  subject,  it  was  his  custom 
to  throw  the  leading  thoughts  into  a  few  simple  stan- 
zas. These  were  sung  at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  and 
supplied  his  hearers  with  a  compend  of  his  instructions, 
which  might  greatly  aid  their  memories  and  their  devo- 
tion. Thus,  a  sermon  on  "  the  rest  which  remains  for 
the  people  of  God"  was  followed  by  the  hymn, — 

"  Lord  of  the  Sabbath,  hear  our  vows." 
In  like  manner  a  sermon  on  1  Pet.  ii.  7  was  condensed 
into  the  poetical  epitome, — 


136  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMN- 

"Jesus,  I  love  thy  charming  name." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  James  Hamilton,  in  the  "  North  British 
Review,"  speaking  of  these  and  his  other  hymns,  beauti- 
fully says,  "  If  amber  is  the  gum  of  fossil  trees,  fetched 
up  and  floated  off  by  the  ocean,  hymns  like  these  are  a 
spiritual  amber.  Most  of  the  sermons  to  which  they 
originally  pertained  have  disappeared  forever;  but,  at 
once  beautiful  and  buoyant,  these  sacred  strains  are 
destined  to  carry  the  devout  emotions  of  Doddridge  to 
every  shore  where  his  Master  is  loved  and  where  his 
mother-tongue  is  spoken." 

The  well-known  hymn, — 

"  0  God  of  Jacob,  by  whose  hand," 

often  attributed  to  Logan,  proceeded  from  the  pen  of 
Doddridge  years  before  Logan  was  born. 

In  1836  a  very  interesting  manuscript  volume  was  in 
the  hands  of  the  Eev.  W.  Eooker,  of  Tavistock,  Devon- 
shire, England,  which  belonged  to  Dr.  Doddridge.  It 
contained  one  hundred  hymns  in  the  handwriting  of 
that  excellent  man,  numbered  in  Eoman  figures :  to 
each  was  prefixed  a  text  of  Scripture,  and  at  the  close 
of  many  of  them  were  added  the  dates,  and  sometimes 
the  places,  of  their  composition.  A  few  facts  from  this 
volume  may  not  be  without  interest  to  our  readers. 
The  greater  part  of  these  compositions  were  afterward 
printed,  under  the  direction  of  the  Eev.  Job  Orton ;  and 
to  these  only  do  the  facts  we  now  give  relate. 

The  hymn  "  On  the  death  of  a  minister," — 


REV.    PHILIP   DODDRIDGE,   D.D.  137 

'•  Now  let  our  mourning  hearts  revive,"  etc., 

he  tells  us  was  "composed  at  Kettering,  August  22, 
1736." 

"  Let  Zion's  watchmen  all  awake," 

was  written  from  home, — but  the  name  of  the  place  can- 
not be  deciphered, — on  the  occasion  of  an  ordination, 
October  21,  1736. 
The  hymn, — 

"  My  God,  thy  service  well  demands," 

bearing  for  its  title,  in  Orton's  volume,  "On  recovery 
from  sickness,  during  which  much  of  the  divine  favor 
had  been  experienced,"  has,  in  the  manuscript,  this 
note : — "  Particularly  intended  for  the  use  of  a  friend, 
Miss  Xancy  Bliss,  who  had  been  in  the  extremest  danger 
by  the  bursting  of  an  artery  in  her  stomach,  November 
14,  1737." 

The  second  verse,  as  printed  by  Orton,  stands, — 

"  Thine  arms  of  everlasting  love 
Did  this  weak  frame  sustain 
When  life  was  hovering  o'er  the  grave 
And  nature  sunk  with  pain." 

The  closing  couplet  of  this  verse  in  the  original  is  far 

more  poetical,  and  has  a  distinct  reference  to  the  painful 

accident  which  led  to  its  composition : — 

"When  life  in  purple  torrents  flowed 
From  every  sinking  vein." 

"Shepherd  of  Israel,  bend  thine  ear," 

was  composed  "  at  a  meeting  of  ministers  at  Bedworth, 

during  their  long  vacancy  [recess],  April  10,  1735." 

12* 


138  AUTHORS    AND   ORIGIN    OF    HYMN- 

"And  will  the  great  eternal  God,"  etc., 

"  On  opening  a  new  place  of  worship,"  was  headed,  "On 
the  opening  of  a  new  meeting-place  at  Oakham,  from 
Psalm  lxxxvii.  4."     Ko  date  is  given. 

"Great  God  of  heaven  and  nature,  rise,"  etc., 

is  entitled,  in  the  manuscript,  "  A  hymn  for  the  First- 
day,  January  9,  1739-40." 

A  few  additional  lines  relating  to  Dr.  Doddridge  will 
be  pardoned.  He  possessed  a  very  remarkable  talent  for 
satire,  which  he  could  condense  into  a  short  epigram. 
One  of  his  pupils,  a  weak  young  man,  thought  he  had 
invented  a  machine  on  which  he  could  fly  to  the  moon. 
The  doctor  wrote, — 

"And  will  Volatio  leave  this  world  so  soon, 
To  fly  to  his  own  native  seat,  the  moon? 
'Twill  stand,  however,  in  some  little  stead 
That  he  sets  out  with  such  an  empty  head." 

One  of  his  lovely  daughters — the  same  who  said  she 
was  loved  by  every  one,  because  she  loved  everybody — 
wounded  her  foot  by  running  a  thorn  into  it;  where- 
upon her  father  addressed  to  her  the  lines, — 

"Oft  I  have  heard  the  ancient  sages  say 
The  path  of  virtue  was  a  thorny  way: 
If  so,  dear  Celia,  we  may  know 
Which  path  it  is  you  tread,  which  way  it  is  you  go." 

Well  as  it  is  known,  we  will  ask  permission  to  add  his 
epigram  on  his  family  motto,  which  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson, 
who  has  himself  been  called  "  the  old  king  of  critics," 


REV.    PHILIP   DODDRIDGE,    D.D.  139 

has  warmly  eulogized  as  one  of  the  finest  in  the  English 
language : — 

"Live  while  you  live,  the  epicure  would  say, 
And  seize  the  pleasures  of  the  present  day  : 
Live  while  you  live,  the  sacred  preacher  cries, 
And  give  to  God  each  moment  as  it  flies. 
Lord,  in  my  life  let  both  united  be : 
I  live  in  pleasure  while  I  live  to  thee." 

The  beautiful  hymn,  though  less  known  than  it  should 

be; — 

"  Awake,  my  soul,  to  meet  the  day," 

was  written  by  Dr.  Doddridge,  who  rose  every  morn- 
ing throughout  the  year  at  five  o'clock.  It  originally 
consisted  of  seven  verses,  and  was  constantly  used  by 
him  as  an  act  of  devotion,  on  which  account  he  en- 
titled it  "A  Morning  Hymn,  to  be  sung  at  awaking 
and  rising."  We  are  told  that,  as  the  beginning  of  the 
sixth  verse — "  As  rising  now" — was  yet  on  his  lips,  he 
sprang  out  of  bed.  The  reader  will  remember  that  to 
this  habit  of  early  rising  we  owe  his  admirable  "  Family 
Expositor  of  the  New  Testament." 

In  every  view  of  the  subject,  it  would  be  improper  not 
to  refer,  in  this  connection,  to  "  Doddridge's  Principles  of 
the  Christian  Religion,  in  Plain  and  Easy  Verse."  Yery 
few  productions,  for  many  years,  did  more  to  diffuse 
evangelical  religion  among  the  young  people  of  England, 
from  the  palace  to  the  cottage,  than  did  this  unpretend- 
ing little  work.  Writing  to  his  wife,  who  was  then  dis- 
tant from  him,  he  thus  speaks  : — "  I  have  been  amusing 
myself  with  making  some  little  verses  for  the  children. 


140  AUTHORS    AND    ORKilN    OF    11 Y  V. 

It  is  a  work  Mr.  Clark,  of  St.  Alban's,  proposed  to  ine, — 
that  I  should  draw  up  a  little  summary  of  religion  in 
verse  for  the  use  of  little  children,  pretty  much  in  sense 
the  same  with  Dr.  Watts's  Second  Catechism,  which  is 
the  best  short  compendium  I  ever  saw  for  matter  and 
method.  I  have  insensibly  crept  on  for  about  a  third 
part  of  the  whole,  and  hope  to  end  in  a  fortnight  more." 
In  a  later  letter  to  the  same  lady,  he  says,  "  I  am  not 
ashamed  of  these  little  services ;  for  I  had  rather  feed 
the  lambs  of  Christ  than  rule  a  kingdom." 

Those  of  our  readers  who  have  read  the  life  of  this 
excellent  man  will  remember  the  details  of  a  remarkable 
dream  which  he  had  after  spending  an  evening  with  Dr. 
Samuel  Clark,  conversing  with  him  on  the  happiness  of 
Christians  when  separated  from  the  body.  Eetiring  to 
sleep,  he  imagined  himself  leaving  earth  and  conducted 
by  an  angelic  being  to  a  part  of  heaven  resembling  a 
palace,  where  he  was  favored  with  an  interview  with  his 
glorified  Lord  and  Master,  who  expressed  His  approval 
of  his  labors  and  promised  the  eternal  reward  of  His 
favor.  After  this  he  saw  in  the  room  where  he  had  been 
placed,  in  pictures,  a  representation  of  the  principal 
scenes  of  his  life.  This  remarkable  dream  gave  rise  to 
the  beautiful  hymn, — 

"  While  on  the  verge  of  life  I  stand." 


JOHN   DRYDEN.  141 

JOHN  DRYDEN. 

Scarcely  any  hymn  in  our  language  is  better  known 

than, — 

"Creator  Spirit,  by  whose  aid," 

which  is  a  paraphrase  by  the  poet  Dryden  of  the  Latin 
hymn  "  Veni  Creator  Spiritus"  of  Ambrose,  Bishop  of 
Milan  in  the  fourth  century.  The  Rev.  J.  Chandler, 
of  Corpus  Christi  College,  Oxford,  England,  who  trans- 
lated and  published,  in  1837,  a  collection  of  "Hymns  of 
the  Primitive  Church"  says  that,  in  the  primitive  times, 
each  day,  or  twenty-four  hours,  was  "  parcelled  out"  into 
eight  services, — there  being  a  service  at  the  end  of  every 
three  hours.  At  nine  o'clock  every  morning  a  hymn 
was  sung  to  the  Holy  Spirit, — that  being  the  hour  in 
which,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  he  descended  on  the 
apostles.  This  seems  to  have  been  observed  from  very 
early  times ;  so  that  Mr.  Chandler  adds,  "  Most  likely 
the  Veni  Creator  of  St.  Ambrose  was  merely  a  new 
hymn  written  by  him  on  a  subject  already  familiar  to 
the  Church  from  the  apostles  downward." 

By  a  reference  to  the  article  Charlemagne,  in  this 
volume,  the  reader  will  see  that  other  claims  have  been 
set  up  for  the  authorship  of  this  fine  hymn. 

Dryden  wrote  also  a  paraphrase  of  "  Te  Deum  Lau- 

damus-"   but  it  is  far  inferior  to  the  one  by  Charles 

Wesley : — 

"Infinite  God,  to  thee  we  raise,"  etc. 


142  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

REV.  GEORGE  DUFFIELD,  JR. 

The  "  Sabbath  Hymn-Book"  contains  two  hymns  from 
the  pen  of  this  gentleman  which  are  not  anonymous, 
and  other  books  have  some  others  which  are.  All  of 
them  show  that  he  possesses  several  very  important 
qualifications  of  a  good  hymn-writer.  One  of  the  two 
hymns  to  which  we  have  referred, — 

"Blessed  Saviour,  thee  I  love," 

was  written  at  Bloomfield,  Xew  Jersey,  when  the  church 
of  which  its  author  was  then  pastor  was  in  the  midst  of 
a  very  pleasant  revival;  and  the  other, — 

'•  Stand  up  !  stand  up  for  Jesus  !" 

was  composed  to  be  sung  after  a  sermon  delivered  by 
its  writer  the  Sabbath  following  the  mournfully  sudden 
death  of  the  Eev.  Dudley  A.  Tyng,  who  was  called  from 
earth  in  1858,  and  whose  dying  counsel  to  his  brethren 
in  the  ministry  was,  u  Stand  up  for  Jesus." 

3Ir.  Duffield,  a  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Duffield,  a  Presby- 
terian clergyman  of  Detroit,  was  born  at  Carlisle,  in 
Pennsylvania,  in  1818,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1837, 
was  ordained  in  1840,  and  removed  to  Philadelphia  in 
ls52.  His  ministerial  career  has  been  marked  by  much 
Christian  activity  and  success;  and  he  has  already  given 
several  proofs,  besides  his  hymns,  of  his  talents  for  au- 
thorship. 


REV.    TIMOTHY    DWIUIIT,   D.D.  143 

REV.  TIMOTHY  DWIGHT,  D.D. 

We  never  read  Dr.  D wight's  beautiful  hymn, — 
"  I  love  thy  Church,  0  God," 

without  an  earnest  wish  that  he  had  written  many 
more  like  it.  And  yet,  when  we  remember  how  much 
labor  he  performed,  notwithstanding  the  defect  of  his 
sight,  we  are  surprised  that  he  accomplished  so  much. 
It  is  well  known  that  the  excellent  doctor  was  re- 
quested by  the  Congregationalist  ministers  of  Connec- 
ticut to  revise  Dr.  Watts's  version  of  the  Psalms,  and 
"  to  versify  the  Psalms  omitted  by  Watts,"  which  had 
been  previously  done,  but  very  imperfectly,  by  Joel 
Barlow.  He  accomplished  his  task  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  parties  by  whom  he  was  employed,  adding  up- 
ward of  twenty  compositions  to  the  volume ;  but  very 
few  of  them  are  now  used. 

Few  men  ever  employed  an  amanuensis  to  so  great  an 
extent  as  this  worthy  President  of  Yale  College.  His 
"  Travels"  " System  of  Theology"  and  probably  his  " Ser- 
mons," were  all  written  in  this  way.  Thus  by  the  aid 
of  his  students — for  the  work  was  generally  done  by 
them,  and  gratuitously — his  name  and  influence  will  be 
perpetuated  through  many  generations. 

Dr.  Dwight  was  born  in  Northampton,  Mass.,  in  1752, 
and  died  in  1817.  In  1785,  he  published  his  first  poem, 
"  The  Conquest  of  Canaan,"  in  12mo,  a  copy  of  which 
we  saw  sold  in  England  for  more  than  five  dollars. 


144  AUTHORS    AM)    ORIGIN    OF    EYMM8. 

REV.  SIDNEY  DYER. 

The  hymn, — 

"Go,  preach  the  blest  salvation," 

was  the  production  of  this  zealous  and  useful  Baptist 
minister,  who  is  also  the  author  of  several  volumes  of 
religious  poetry.  He  was  formerly  a  missionary  laborer 
among  the  Indians,  and  has  been  many  years  a  laborious 
servant  of  Christ  in  the  Great  West.  He  was  born  in 
the  State  of  New  York,  in  the  year  1814. 


REV.  J.  W.  EASTBURNE. 

'We  have,  in  one  or  more  of  our  hymn-books,  a  remark- 
able composition  for  its  evangelical  and  poetical  spirit, 
beginning, — 

"0  holy,  holy,  holy  Lord!"' 

written  by  this  excellent  young  man,  who  died  in  New 
York,  the  city  of  his  birth,  in  the  year  1819,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years.  He  was  associated  in  literary  en- 
gagements with  Robert  C.  Sands. 


CHARLOTTE  ELLIOTT. 

One  of  the  most  popular  hymns  we  have  commences, — 
"Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea." 
It  has  been  thought  by  many  persons  not  unlikely  to 


REV.    R.    ELLIOTT.  145 

know,  that  scarcely  any  other  hymn  in  our  language 
has  been  so  useful  alike  to  the  unconverted  and  to  the 
Christian.  Its  author,  Miss  Elliott,  is  a  somewhat  elderly 
lady  of  fortune  residing  at  Torquay,  in  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, a  neighborhood  which  has  been  favored  with  her 
beneficence  for  many  years.  Some  years  since,  she 
spent  many  months  in  the  vicinityof  Geneva,  where  she 
formed  warm  friendships  with  Drs.  Malan,  Merle  d'Au- 
bigne,  and  other  gentlemen  of  the  same  evangelical 
school.  She  is  said  to  have  published  several  small  vo- 
lumes of  devotional  poetry,  and  seldom,  even  now,  ap- 
pears at  the  breakfast-table  without  more  or  less  of 
Christian  poetical  composition  in  manuscript. 


REV.  R.  ELLIOTT. 

The  hymn  now  becoming  pretty  well  known  among 

us  — 

"Prepare  us,  gracious  God," 

usually  ascribed  to  Toplady,  who  first  published  it,  and 
that  in  an  altered  form,  in  1766,  was  written  by  Elliott 
in  1761.  Its  author  was  born  at  Kingsbridge,  Devon- 
shire, was  admitted  to  Cambridge  University  in  1746, 
for  a  while  associated  with  the  Methodists,  and  ulti- 
mately settled  as  a  Dissenting  minister  in  London.  He 
wrote  several  theological  works,  including  "Sin  De- 
stroyed and  the  Sinner  Saved;  or,  Justification  by  Imputed 
Righteousness  a  Doctrine  Superior  to  all  Others  for  Pro- 
moting Holiness  in  Life"     He  died  in  1788. 


146  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 


JAMES  EDMESTON. 

This  gentleman,  who  has  contributed  several  accept- 
able hymns  to  our  collections,  was  a  layman,  connected 
with  a  Congregational  church  in  London.  He  published 
several  small  volumes  of  devotional  poetry,  one  called 
u  The  Cottage  Minstrel,"  hymns  for  village  prayer-meet- 
ings, and  a  large  number  of  hymns  in  various  magazines. 
He  died,  at  an  advanced  age,  a  few  years  ago. 


REV.  WILLIAM  ENFIELD,  LL.D. 

This  gentleman,  the  author  of, — 

"Behold  where,  in  a  mortal  form," 

was  for  many  years  an  Arian  minister,  first  at  Liverpool 
and  afterward  in  Norwich,  both  in  England,  and  died  in 
the  latter  city,  1797,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  For  several 
years  he  was  a  professor  of  belles-lettres  at  the  Unitarian 
Academy  at  Warrington,  and  was  the  author  of  several 
popular  volumes.  His  life  was  published,  in  connection 
with  three  volumes  of  his  sermons,  by  Dr.  Aikin. 


REV.  JONATHAN  EVANS. 

The  well-known  favorite  hymn, — 

"  Hark !  the  voice  of  love  and  mercy, 


Hl-.Y.    JOHN    FAWCETT,    D.D.  347 

much  longer  than  it  is  now  generally  printed,  was  the 
composition  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Evans,  of  Foleshill, 
England.  lie  wrote  a  volume  of  similar  compositions, 
the  manuscript  of  which  is  said  yet  to  be  in  existence. 
Though  originally  in  a  very  different  profession,  and 
unblest  by  the  privileges  of  a  collegiate  education,  Mr. 
Evans  was,  for  about  thirty  years,  a  plain,  earnest,  and 
successful  preacher  of  the  gospel,  chiefly  in  the  villages 
of  Warwickshire  and  among  a  congregation  raised  by 
his  own  labors  at  Foleshill.  He  was  a  man  of  sense, 
piety,  activity,  and  fortitude, — a  firm  and  generous 
friend,  and  a  kind  benefactor  to  the  poor,  both  by  ren- 
dering medical  assistance  and  in  ministerial  labors.  lie 
died  in  August,  1809,  aged  sixty  years. 


REV.  JOHN  FAWCETT,  D.D. 

Tradition  in  England  gives  a  very  pleasing  account 
of  the  origin  of  the  well-known  hymn, — 
"Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds." 

It  was  written  by  the  late  dignified  and  gentlemanly 
Rev.  John  Fawcett,D.D.,  who  died  in  1817,  in  the  seventy- 
seventh  year  of  his  age,  nearly  sixty  years  of  which 
were  devoted  to  the  Christian  ministry.  As  early  as 
1782  he  published  a  small  volume  of  hymns  for  public 
and  private  worship, — a  new  edition  of  which  was  issued 
in  the  year  of  his  death. 

After  he  had  been  a  few  years  in  the  ministry,  his 


148  AUTHORS    AND    OBIGIfl    01     HYMN- 

family  increasing  far  more  rapidly  than  his  income,  lie 
thought  it  was  his  duty  to  accept  a  call  to  settle  as 
pastor  of  a  Baptist  church  in  London,  to  succeed  the 
celebrated  Dr.  Gill,  which  he  did.  He  preached  his  fare- 
well sermon  to  his  church  in  Yorkshire,  and  loaded  six 
or  seven  wagons  with  his  furniture,  books,  etc.,  to  be 
carried  to  his  new  residence.  All  this  time  the  members 
of  his  poor  church  were  almost  broken-hearted :  fer- 
vently did  they  pray  that  even  now  he  might  not  leave 
them  j  and,  as  the  time  for  his  departure  arrived,  men, 
women,  and  children  clung  around  him  and  his  family 
in  perfect  agony  of  soul.  The  last  wagon  was  being 
loaded,  when  the  good  man  and  his  wife  sat  down  on 
one  of  the  packing-cases  to  weep.  Looking  into  his 
tearful  face,  while  tears  like  rain  fell  down  her  own 
cheeks,  his  devoted  wife  said,  "  Oh,  John,  John,  I  cannot 
bear  this  !  I  know  not  how  to  go  f  "  Xor  I,  either," 
said  the  good  man;  "nor  will  we  go.  Unload  the 
wagons  and  put  every  thing  in  the  place  where  it  was 
before."  The  people  cried  for  joy.  A  letter  was  sent 
to  the  church  in  London  to  tell  them  that  his  coming  to 
them  was  impossible;  and  the  good  man  buckled  on  his 
armor  for  renewed  labors  on  a  salary  of  less  than  two 
hundred  dollars  a  year. 

It  is  said  that  the  hymn  to  which  we  have  already 
referred  was  written  to  commemorate  his  continuance 
with  his  people.  It  was  not  only  useful  then,  but  has 
been  sung  by  tens  of  thousands  since,  and  no  doubt  will 
be  for  generations  yet  to  come. 


REV.    JOHN    FAWCETT,    D.D.  149 

Dr.  Fawcett  was  the  author  of  several  other  works  be 
sides  liis  hymn-book.  One  of  these — "  An  Essay  on  Anger" 
— was  a  favorite  book  with  George  III.,  who  offered  its  au- 
thor any  benefit  he  could  confer.  The  good  man  substan- 
tially replied  that  he  lived  among  his  own  people, — that  he 
enjoyed  their  love, — that  God  blessed  his  labors  among 
them, — and  that  he  needed  nothing  which  even  a  king 
could  bestow.  Some  time  afterward,  however,  a  young 
man,  the  son  of  a  dear  friend,  was  sentenced  to  death 
for  the  crime  of  forgery.  Fawcett  interposed  in  his 
favor,  and,  after  much  labor,  obtained  from  his  sovereign 
a  pardon.  The  young  man  afterward  became  an  emi- 
nent Christian,  and  on  the  Sabbaths  of  many  years  read 
the  hymns  in  a  church  in  Liverpool. 

Fawcett  was  exceedingly  fond  of  psalmody,  and  often 
said,  "  If  the  Lord  has  given  to  man  the  ability  to  raise 
such  melodious  sounds  and  voices  on  earth,  what  de- 
lightful harmony  will  there  be  in  heaven!" 

Let  us  take  our  last  look  at  this  excellent  minister  of 
Jesus  Christ.  He  has  ascended  the  pulpit  at  an  Associa- 
tion in  Yorkshire.  A  thousand  eyes  are  fixed  on  him 
in  love  and  admiration,  and  all  present  express  their  con- 
viction, by  nods  and  smiles,  that  a  spiritual  feast  has  been 
provided  for  them.  As  a  good  soldier  of  Christ,  he  has 
endured  hardness  for  far  more  than  half  a  century. 
His  praise  has  been  in  all  the  churches ;  his  ministry 
has  been  greatly  prized  through  the  whole  of  that  popu- 
lous district;  and  his  usefulness  has  been  honored  at 
home  and  abroad,  in  the  cottage  and  in  the  palace  itself. 

13* 


150  AUTHOEfl    AVD    uKU.IN    OF    HYMNS. 

He  has  now  come  to  bear  his  dying  testimony  to  the 
doctrines  of  the  cross,  and  to  bid  farewell  to  the  minis- 
ters and  friends  with  whom  he  has  been  so  long  asso- 
ciated. Many  of  them  have  a  strong  presentiment  that 
they  shall  see  his  face  no  more,  and  are  prepared  to  re- 
ceive his  message  as  from  the  lips  of  a  man  who  has 
finished  his  course  and  now  stands  at  the  entrance  of 
heaven.  As  he  rises  in  the  pulpit,  a  death-like  silence 
overspreads  the  crowded  congregation,  and  all  ears  are 
opened  to  catch  the  words  of  inspiration.  With  a  tre- 
mulous voice,  and  with  deep  emotion,  he  reads  the  text, 
"I  am  this  day  going  the  way  of  all  the  earth,"  Josh, 
xxiii.  14  -,  and,  long  before  he  finishes  his  discourse,  the 
place  becomes  a  Bocliim, — the  house  of  God, — the  gate 
of  heaven.  The  sermon,  which  was  committed  to  the 
press  by  the  agency  of  its  hearers,  yet  exists  as  a  monu- 
ment to  his  love  of  truth,  his  holy  affection,  and  his  zeal 
for  the  extension  of  the  doctrines  of  sovereign  mercy. 


JOHN  FELLOWS. 

Several  hymns  on  baptism,  which  appear  in  some 
of  our  books,  were  written  by  John  Fellows,  a  poor 
shoemaker  of  that  denomination,  of  Birmingham,  Eng- 
land, in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  He  wrote 
several  works  of  a  poetical  character,  including  "  The 
History  of  the  Bible."  He  was  contemporary  with  Gill 
and  Toplady,  on  whose  decease  he  wrote  elegies.     The 


REV.    BENJAMIN    FRANCIS.  151 

fourth  edition  of  his  hymns  was  published  in  1777.  Al- 
libone,  in  his  very  able  "  Critical  Dictionary  of  English 
Literature"  improperly  speaks  of  him  as  a  Methodist. 


ELIZA  LEE  FOLLEN. 


We  have  met,  in  our  books,  with  two  or  three  very 
pleasing  hymns  from  the  pen  of  this  lady,  who  is,  we 
believe,  connected  with  the  Unitarian  body.  She  has 
published  several  volumes  of  prose,  which  have  been 
well  received  by  the  public,  especially  in  New  England, 
to  the  manners  of  which  portion  of  our  land  she  appears 
to  be  very  warmly  attached. 

This  lady,  formerly  Miss  Cabot,  a  native  of  Boston, 
was  married  in  1828  to  Professor  Charles  Follen,  who 
perished  in  the  conflagration  of  the  steamboat  Lexing- 
ton, in  1840.  She  has  since  published  the  life  of  her 
husband. 


REV.  BENJAMIN  FRANCIS. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Francis,  whose  hymn 

"  My  gracious  Kedeemer  I  love" 

is  an  ornament  to  many  of  our  books,  was  a  native  of 
Wales,  and  was  born  in  1734.  At  fifteen  he  united  with 
a  Baptist  church,  and  began  to  preach  at  nineteen,  when 
he  was  sent  to  Bristol  College,  where  he  remained  for 


152  AUTHORS    AND    ORKilN    OF    HYMNS. 

three  years.  When  he  went  to  college  he  did  not  know 
enough  of  the  English  language  to  ask  in  it  a  blessing 
on  his  food ;  but  in  a  short  time  he  became  an  excellent 
English  scholar.  At  twenty-four  he  was  ordained,  at 
Shortwood,  in  Gloucestershire,  where  he  remained  till 
his  death  in  1799.  During  his  ministry  the  house  of 
worship  was  three  times  enlarged,  and  a  new  edifice 
was  erected  three  miles  from  it  for  evening  services.  One 
of  his  hymns, — 

"  Great  King  of  glory,  come," 

was  written  for  the  re-dedication  of  his  church-edifice 
after  one  of  its  enlargements.  He  was  strongly  invited 
to  settle  with  a  church  in  London  ;  but,  though  he  had  a 
large  and  afflicted  family,  and  a  small  income,  he  posi- 
tively refused.  He  is  said  to  have  enjoyed  through  life  a 
very  heavenly  state  of  mind,  and,  though  frequently  in 
great  trouble,  was  generally  happy.  As  he  approached 
the  end  of  his  life,  he  would  often  weep  over  the  remem- 
brance of  his  early  friends,  nearly  all  of  whom  had  been 
removed  by  death.  He  had  used  to  speak  of  heaven  as 
the  residence  of  the  larger  number  of  his  companions. 
He  died  happy  in  Christ,  saying,  a  few  days  before  his 
death,  "  If  I  could  mention  nothing  of  former  experiences, 
I  can,  I  can,  at  this  moment  go  to  Jesus,  as  a  poor  sinner, 
longing  for  salvation  in  his  own  sovereign  way." 

The  late  eminent  preacher,  the  Eev.  Thomas  Flint, 
was  the  son-in-law  and  successor  of  this  excellent  man. 


REV.    W.    II.    FIRNESS,    D.D.  153 

REV.  RICHARD  FURMAN,  D.D. 

The  name  of  this  truly-excellent  man  is  not  unknown 
to  our  hymn-books,  though  it  is  readily  conceded  that 
poetry  was  by  no  means  the  leading  characteristic  of  his 
mind.  Few  ministers  of  the  Baptist  body,  in  this  or  any 
other  land,  have  been  more  distinguished  for  sound  judg- 
ment, correct  theology,  eminent  spirituality,  or  success- 
ful labor  than  was  Dr.  Furman ;  and  whatever  tends  to 
perpetuate  his  memory  will  be  valued  by  all  who  knew 
him.  He  was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York  in  1755, 
commenced  the  work  of  the  ministry  at  about  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  settled  at  Charleston,  S.C.,  in  1787, 
where  he  labored  with  great  success  till  his  decease  in 
in  1825.  He  filled  in  his  own  denomination  many  of 
its  most  important  offices;  and  the  influence  he  ex- 
erted is  still  powerful  for  good. 


REV.  W.  H.  FURNESS,  D.D. 

This  gentleman,  author  of  several  very  fine  hymns  in 
our  collections,  has  since  1823  been  the  Unitarian  clergy- 
man of  Philadelphia.  He  graduated  at  Harvard  Col- 
lege in  1820,  and  then  pursued  his  theological  studies  till 
his  ordination.  He  is  the  author  of  several  religious 
works,  is  a  poet  of  fine  taste,  and  has  published  many 
hymns,  translations,  and  fugitive  pieces.  He  has  lately 
devoted  himself  to  the  reform-movements  of  the  dav,  such 


\bi  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

as  anti-slavery,  temperance,  and,  we  believe,  woman's 
rights.     lie  is  also  very  warmly  attached  to  the  fine  arts. 
Dr.  Furness  was  born  at  Boston  in  1802. 


THOMAS  H.  GALLAUDET,  LL.D. 

We  know  of  very  few  hymns  written  by  this  truly 
distinguished  man ;  but  if  he  had  written  no  other  than, — 

"Jesus,  in  sickness  and  in  pain," 

he  would  be  fully  entitled  to  a  place  in  our  volume.  He 
was  born  in  Philadelphia  in  1807,  and  died  at  Hartford, 
Connecticut,  in  1851.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1805,  being  then  but  eighteen  years  of  age,  after  which 
he  suffered  for  several  years  from  ill  health.  In  1814  he 
was  licensed  to  preach,  but  soon  after  devoted  himself  to 
the  deaf  and  dumb  institution  in  Hartford,  in  which 
great  work  he  was  the  pioneer  and  most  distinguished 
of  all  teachers.  He  was  also  the  most  eminent  and 
popular  writer  of  juvenile  literature  of  his  day.  The 
continued  buoyancy  and  vigor  of  his  mind,  and  the 
amount  of  his  achievements,  were  truly  wonderful  j  and 
his  memory  will  ever  remain  fragrant  in  the  land  which 
he  served  and  adorned. 


REV.  JOHN  GAMBOLD. 

We  have  yet,  in  some  of  our  books,  a  fine  old  hymn 
beginning, — 


KKV.    JOHN    GAMBOLD.  155 

"Oh,  tell  me  no  more  of  this  world's  vain  store." 

It  was  written  by  the  Rev.  John  (Jambold,  a  native  of 
Haverfordwest,  who  took  his  degree  of  M.A.  at  Oxford 
University  in  1734.  After  being,  on  the  presentation  of 
Archbishop  Seeker,  vicar  of  Stanton  Harcourt,  in  Ox- 
fordshire, till  1748,  he  joined  the  United  Brethren,  among 
whom  he  was  ordained  bishop  in  1754.  He  established 
a  congregation  at  Coothill,  in  Ireland,  and  died  in  his 
native  town  in  1771.  He  published  several  works,  be- 
sides a  poem  on  the  martyrdom  of  Ignatius,  and  was 
universally  esteemed  for  his  extensive  learning  and  inof- 
fensive manners. 

The  hymn  to  which  we  have  referred  was  a  great  fa- 
vorite with  the  eminent  Rowland  Hill,  who  published  it 
in  his  own  hymn-book,  and  during  many  of  the  last 
years  of  his  life  probably  repeated  some  of  its  lines 
thousands  of  times,  feeling  intense  interest  in  them  even 
when  he  was  beyond  the  power  of  uttering  a  single 
word  : — 

"And  when  I'm  to  die,  receive  me,  I'll  cry, 
For  Jesus  hath  loved  me,  I  cannot  tell  why  ; 
But  this  I  do  find, — we  two  are  so  joined,- 
He'll  not  live  in  glory  and  leave  me  behind." 

It  has  been  well  said  that  it  is  impossible  to  read 
Gambold's  works  without  being  convinced  that  he  en- 
joyed much  communion  with  God  and  was  greatly  con- 
versant with  heavenly  things,  and  that  hence  he  had 
imbibed  much  of  the  spirit  and  caught  much  of  the  tone 
of  the  glorified  Church  above.     The  late  Judge  Story, 


156  A I  TIK»K>    AND    ORIGIN    Of    BTMH8. 

writing  to  the  Rev.  John  Brazer,  says,  u  The  specimens 

you  have  presented  of  his  writings  give  me  a  high  opi- 
nion of  his  genius,  and  there  are  occasional  flashes  in  his 
poetry  of  great  brilliancy  and  power.  The  '  Jlystery  of 
Life'  contains  some  exquisite  touches,  and  cannot  but 
recall  to  every  man,  who  has  indulged  in  musings  beyond 
this  sublunary  scene,  some  of  those  thoughts  which  have 
passed  before  him  in  an  unearthly  form  as  he  has  com- 
muned with  his  own  soul." 


REV.  PAUL  GERHARD. 

This  German  divine,  sometimes  called  Gerhardt,  waa 
born  in  1606  and  died  in  1676.  His  hymns,  or  rather 
translations  of  them,  are  becoming  increasingly  popular, 
and  very  deservedly  so,  for  we  know  of  none  more  scrip- 
tural in  sentiment  or  devotional  in  spirit.  He  was  the 
author  of  the  hymn  first  translated  by  the  Rev.  John 

Wesley, — 

"Give  to  the  "winds  thy  fears," 

which  in  some  English  hymn-books  has  been  erroneously 
ascribed  to  Martin  Luther.  Our  more  modern  books 
are  giving  us  others  of  his  truly  excellent  productions ; 
so  that  he  may  become  in  this  country  what  he  has  long 
been  in  Germany, — the  favorite  poet  among  orthodox 
Christians. 


NN    GILBERT.  157 

REV.  THOMAS  GIBBONS,  D.D. 

Our  books  contain  a  hymn, — 

"  When  Jesus  dwelt  in  mortal  clay," 

and  one  or  two  others,  written  by  Dr.  Gibbons,  an  Inde- 
pendent or  Congregational  minister,  first  in  Silver  Street 
and  afterward  in  Haberdashers'  Hall,  both  in  the  city 
of  London.  He  was  the  intimate  friend  of  Whitefield, 
who  tells  an  amusing  anecdote  of  his  once  suffering  sea- 
sickness for  an  hour  and  thus  having  his  sympathy  for 
sailors  greatly  increased.  He  was  also  intimate  with 
Dr.  "Watts,  whose  life  he  wrote.  He  published  ''Memoirs 
of  Eminent  Women,"  "Rhetoric,"  etc.  In  1785,  when 
sixty-five  years  of  age,  he  was  taken  suddenly  in  a  fit, 
and  remained  speechless  for  five  days,  at  the  end  of 
which  he  died.     He  was  held  in  very  high  esteem. 

Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  when  speaking  of  Dr.  Gibbons's 
volume  "  The  Christian  Minister,"  says,  "  Here  you  have 
a  thousand  hints  respecting  the  reading  of  the  best  au- 
thors, the  composing  of  sermons,  etc." 


ANN  GILBERT. 


Two  or  three  hymns  to  be  found  in  some  of  our  books 
were  written  by  this  lady,  who  was  one  of  the  Taylor 
family  of  Ongar,  and  who  felt  a  special  interest  in  hymns 
for  the  young,  and  for  Sabbath-schools.     She  was  one  of 


li 


158  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

the  authors  of  "  Hymns  for  Infant  Minds."  Her  father, 
as  is  well  known,  was  the  Rev.  Isaac  Taylor,  an  excellent 
Congregational  minister  of  England,  and  her  husband 
was  for  some  years  a  professor  of  classics  in  a  Dissenting 
college,  and  for  many  years  a  Congregational  minister 
at  Nottingham. 


REV.  THOMAS  GISBORNE. 

This  gentleman,  whose  hymns,  we  believe,  are  not 
numerous,  was  born  in  England  in  1758,  and  died  in 
1846.  In  1826  he  was  appointed  as  the  Prebendary  of 
Durham,  an  office  which  he  filled  till  his  death.  He 
published  five  volumes  of  sermons,  and  many  other 
works,  which  were  well  received :  some  of  them  were 
highly  commended  by  the  distinguished  Robert  Hall. 


LORD  GLENELG. 

This  British  nobleman  was  the  author  of  the  well- 
known  hymn, — 

"  When  gathering  clouds  around  I  view." 

His  original  name  and  style  was  Sir  Robert  Grant, 
by  which  name  and  title  he  was  well  known  as  a  faith- 
ful servant  of  his  sovereign  in  a  high  office  in  India, 
where  also  he  was  a  warm  friend  of  evangelical  mission- 


HANNAH    f.    GOULD.  159 

aries  of  every  name.  On  his  return  from  the  East  he 
was  elevated  to  the  peerage,  which  he  has  eminently 
adorned. 

JOHN  MASON  GOOD,  M.D. 

An  elegantly-written  hymn, — 

"  Not  -worlds  on  worlds  in  phalanx  deep!" 

and  a  very  few  others,  were  written  by  this  eminent 
philosopher  and  physician,  a  native  of  Epping,  in  Eng- 
land, in  1764.  In  addition  to  several  highly-important 
medical  works,  and  editing,  in  connection  with  Dr.  Olin- 
thus  Gregory  and  Xewton  Eosworth,  Esq.,  a  valuable 
Cyclopedia  called  "  The  Pantalogia"  he  published  a  new 
translation  of  Solomon's  Song  and  Job,  as  well  as  other 
works  written  in  Oriental  languages.  Dr.  Good  was  the 
son  of  a  Dissenting  minister,  and,  in  early  life,  advocated 
Unitarianism  in  its  lowest  form.  In  his  later  years  he 
became  zealously  attached  to  evangelical  truth,  in  the 
triumphs  of  which  he  died,  January  2d,  1827.  Mr.  Alli- 
bone  truly  says,  "  There  are  few  names  that  cast  greater 
lustre  upon  the  archives  of  British  medical  science  and 
philological  learning  than  that  of  John  Mason  Good." 


HANNAH  F.  GOULD. 


This  lady,  the  author  of  two  or  three  hymns  in  our 
popular  collections,  is  an  extensive  miscellaneous  writer 


160  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

of  our  own  land.  She  is  a  native  of  Lancaster,  Vt., 
but  removed  in  early  life  to  Newburyport,  in  Massachu- 
setts. Mrs.  Hale,  in  her  "  Woman* s  Record,"  says,  "  In 
truth,  the  great  power  of  her  poetry  is  its  moral  appli- 
cation. This  hallows  every  object  she  looks  upon  and 
ennobles  every  incident  she  celebrates.  She  takes  lowly 
and  humble  themes,  but  she  turns  them  to  the  light  of 
heaven,  and  they  are  beautiful,  and  refined,  and  ele- 
vated."   

JAMES  GRANT. 

The  well-known  hymn, — 

"0  Zion  !  afflicted  with  wave  upon  wave," 

was  written  by  James  Grant,  a  magistrate  at  Edinburgh, 
in  Scotland.  He  was  highly  esteemed  for  his  piety  and 
his  love  of  Christians.  Having  an  ear  for  music,  he  was 
much  pleased  with  the  old  Scottish  melodies,  but  dis- 
liked the  words  to  which  many  of  them  were  6ung.  He 
therefore  wrote  some  plaintive  experimental  hymns 
adapted  to  them,  most  of  which  are  now  forgotten;  but 
the  one  to  which  we  have  referred  will  be  popular,  in 
Europe  at  least,  for  generations  to  come.  It  was  written 
to  the  air  of  the  "  Yellow-Haired  Laddie;"  but  modern 
"improvements"  have  prepared  other  tunes  for  it.  Mr. 
Grant  first  published  his  hymns  in  1784,  with  the  title, 
"  Original  Hymns  and  Poems,  Written  by  a  Private  Chris- 
tian for  his  Own  Use." 


MADAME   GUION.  161 

THOMAS  GREENE. 

This  gentleman  was  the  author  of  the  hymn,— 

"It  is  the  Lord  enthroned  in  light." 

He  resided  at  Ware,  in  Hertfordshire,  England,  and 
published  a  small  volume  of  hymns  in  1780.  He  was  not 
a  minister. 


REV.  JOSEPH  GRIGG. 


About  half  a  century  ago,  we  saw  a  small  pamphlet 
containing  nineteen  hymns,  written  by  a  young  man 
named  Grigg,  when  he  was  a  laboring  mechanic.  Among 
the  rest  were  the  well-known 


and 


Jesus,  and  shall  it  ever  be  ?' 


Behold  a  stranger  at  the  door." 


He  afterward  entered  the  ministry,  preached  in  Silver 
Street,  London,  married  a  widow  lady  of  considerable 
property,  and  died  at  Walthamstow,  near  London,  in 
1768. 


MADAME  GUION. 


An  extract  from  a  letter  written  in  1782  by  the  esti- 
mable Cowper  to  the  Rev.  William  Unwin,  in  reference 
to  this  eminent  woman,  will  be  far  more  acceptable  to 
the  reader  than  any  thing  we  could  ourselves  write  : — 


u 


1G2  AITIIORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

••  Mr.  Bull,  a  Dissenting  [Congregational]  minister  of 
Newport  [Pagnell,]  a  learned,  ingenious,  good-natured, 
pious  friend  of  ours,  who  sometimes  visits  us,  and  whom 
we  visited  last  week,  put  into  my  hands  three  volumes 
of  French  poetry,  composed  by  Madame  Guion.  <A 
quietist/  say  you, '  and  a  fanatic :  I  will  have  nothing  to 
do  with  her  V  It  is  very  well :  you  are  welcome  to  have 
nothing  to  do  with  her ;  but,  in  the  mean  time,  her  verse  is 
the  only  French  verse  I  ever  read  that  I  found  agreeable  : 
there  is  a  neatness  in  it  equal  to  that  which  we  applaud, 
with  so  much  reason,  in  the  compositions  of  Prior.  I 
have  translated  several  of  them,  and  shall  proceed  in  my 
translations  till  I  have  filled  a  liliputian  paper-book  I 
happen  to  have  by  me,  which,  when  filled,  I  shall  pre- 
sent to  Mr.  Bull.  He  is  her  passionate  admirer, — rode 
twenty  miles  to  see  her  picture  in  the  house  of  a  stranger, 
which  stranger  politely  insisted  on  his  acceptance  of  it, 
and  it  now  hangs  over  his  chimney.  It  is  a  striking 
portrait, — too  characteristic  not  to  be  a  strong  resem- 
blance, and,  were  it  encompassed  with  a  glory  instead 
of  being  dressed  in  a  nun's  hood,  might  pass  for  the  face 
of  an  angel." 

Many  of  Madame's  religious  views  were  so  erroneous 
as  to  lead  one  of  her  most  devoted  admirers,  the  dis- 
tinguished John  Wesley,  to  say,  "  nay,  such  as  are  dan- 
gerously false."  And  yet  the  same  writer  says,  "I 
believe  she  was  not  only  a  good  woman,  but  good  in 
an  eminent  degree, — deeply  devoted  to  God,  and  often 
favored  with  uncommon  communications  of  his  Spirit." 


REV.    WILLIAM    HAMMOND.  163 

After  being  vehemently  opposed  by  the  leading  men 
of  the  Romish  Church,  .Madame  Guion  spent  ten  years 
in  prison,  during  which  time  she  composed  many  hymns 
and  poems  on  sacred  subjects,  filling  five  octavo  volumes. 
Speaking  of  her  imprisonment  at  Vincennes,  she  says, 
"  I  passed  my  time  in  great  peace,  content  to  spend  the 
rest  of  my  life  there,  if  such  were  the  will  of  God.  I 
sang  songs  of  joy,  which  the  maid  who  served  me  learned 
by  heart  as  fast  as  I  made  them ;  and  we  sang  together 
thy  praises,  O  my  God  !  The  stones  of  my  prison  looked 
in  my  eyes  like  rubies.  I  esteemed  them  more  than  all 
the  gaudy  brilliants  of  a  vain  world." 

After  her  long  imprisonment,  Madame  Guion  lived  a 
retired  life  for  more  than  seven  years  at  Blois,  where  she 
died,  June,  1717,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  her  age.  It 
has  been  truly  said  that  she  sang  her  sweetest  hymns  in 
the  Bastille. 


REV.  WILLIAM  HAMMOND. 

The  well-known,  animating  hymns, — 

"Lord,  we  come  before  thee  now," 

"  Would  you  win  a  soul  to  God  ?" 
and 

"Awake,  and  sing  the  song," 

with  a  few  others,  were  written  by  the  Rev.  William 
Hammond,  "late  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge/'  by 
whom  was  published,  in  1745,  a  volume  of  original 
"Psalms,  Hymns,  and  Spiritual  Songs,"  in  which  these 


1(>4  AUTHORS   and   ORIGIN    01   hymns. 

OOmpositions  first  appeared  before  the  world.  Long  as 
they  have  served  the  churches,  we  can  easily  believe 
they  have  comparatively  but  just  entered  on  their  career 
of  usefulness. 

Mr.  Hammond  was  one  of  the  early  Calvinistic 
Methodist  preachers.  He  afterward,  with  his  friend 
Cennick,  joined  the  Moravian  Brethren,  and  was  interred 
in  their  burying-ground  at  Chelsea,  London,  1783.  Be- 
sides his  hymns,  he  wrote  a  volume  entitled  "  The  Mar- 
row of  the  Gospel,"  and  left  in  manuscript  an  autobio- 
graphy written  in  Greek. 


REV.  JOSEPH  HART. 


Every  reader  will  remember  that  many  hymns  in 
almost  every  book  bear  the  name  of  this  excellent  man. 
He  was  born  about  the  year  1712,  and  in  early  life  re- 
ceived an  excellent  education,  which  prepared  him  for  a 
classical  teacher,  a  profession  he  adorned  for  many  years, 
not  entering  on  the  ministry  till  about  forty-eight  years 
of  age.  He  settled  in  1760  as  pastor  of  the  Independent 
Church  in  Jewin  Street,  London,  where  his  ministry  was 
abundantly  blessed  to  a  very  large  church  and  congrega- 
tion. Here,  while  suffering  great  afflictions,  he  labored 
till  his  death,  May  24th,  1768,  aged  fifty-six  years.  His 
brother-in-law,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes,  addressing  the 
church  in  his  funeral  sermon,  said,  "He  was  like  the 
laborious  ox  that  dies  with   the  yoke  on  his  neck:   so 


REV.    THOMAS    HAWEIS,    LL.B.,    M.D.  165 

died  he  with  the  yoke  of  Christ  on  his  neck;  neither 
would  he  suffer  it  to  be  taken  off;  for  ye  are  his  wit- 
nesses that  he  preached  Christ  to  you  with  the  arrows 
of  death  sticking  in  him."  He  was  buried  in  Eunhill 
Fields,  London,  where  his  tombstone  may  yet  be  seen. 
It  was  said  that  his  funeral  was  more  largely  attended 
than  that  of  any  other  person,  there  being  more  than 
twenty  thousand  spectators  present.  It  may  be  remarked 
here  that  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  records  a  characteristic 
fact : — "  I  went  to  church, — I  gave  a  shilling ;  and,  seeing 
a  poor  girl  at  the  sacrament  in  a  bed-gown,  I  gave  her 
privately  half  a  crown,  [sixty  cents,]  though  I  saw  Hart's 
hymns  in  her  hand." 


REV.  THOMAS  HAWEIS,  LL.B.,  M.D. 

This  gentleman,  born  about  1732,  was  educated  in  the 
University  of  Oxford,  England,  but  was  expelled,  because 
he  professed  to  be  a  Calvinist,  and  irregularly  preached 
to  large  congregations.  The  chapel  at  Broadway,  West- 
minster, was  presented  to  him ;  but  the  Dean  of  West- 
minster refused  him  a  license,  because  he  had  been  ex- 
pelled from  Oxford.  Some  time  afterward,  he  became 
rector  of  Aldwinkle,  in  Northampton  shire,  which  post  he 
held  for  fifty-six  years.  Lady  Huntingdon  appointed 
him  one  of  her  chaplains,  and  for  many  years  he  itine- 
rated throughout  her  connection.  For  several  years  he 
resided  at  Bath,  where  he  died  in  1820,  being  then  the 
oldest  "  evangelical"  clergyman  in  the  Church  of  Eng- 


166  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

land.  He  was  the  author  of  the  well-known  beautiful 
hymn,— 

"0  thou  from  whom  all  goodness  flows," 

as  also  of  the  "Life  of  JRomaine"  a  "  Church  History," 
and  "  A  View  of  the  Present  State  of  Evangelical  Religion 
throughout  the  World."  Dr.  Haweis  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  London  Missionary  Society ;  and  by  his 
influence  the  missions  to  the  South-Sea  islands  were 
first  entered  upon. 

The  excellent  Kev.  John  Newton  says  of  this  good 
man,  "  The  preaching  of  Dr.  Haweis,  which  had,  like 
the  report  of  a  cannon,  sounded  through  the  country, 
attracted  vast  congregations  to  Aldwinkle."  Some  of 
the  most  profligate  persons  in  the  neighborhood  were 
brought  to  repentance  and  "  the  acknowledgment  of  the 
truth"  under  his  heart-searching  addresses.  Among  his 
converts  was  an  old  tavern-keeper,  who,  having  been  a 
good  customer  to  his  own  beer-barrel,  had  carbuncled 
his  nose  into  the  sign  of  his  calling.  He  was  from  na- 
ture and  interest  averse  to  evangelical  truth,  and  could 
not  see  what  all  the  world  had  to  run  after  at  Aldwinkle 
Church.  Being  fond  of  music,  however,  and  hearing  the 
singing  highly  praised,  he  contrived  to  go  six  miles,  avoid 
a  drinking-party,  and  squeeze  himself  into  a  pew  some- 
what too  narrow  for  his  portly  person,  where  he  listened 
with  delight  to  the  hymns,  but  stopped  his  ears  to  the 
prayers.  Heated  and  fatigued,  he  closed  his  eyes  also, 
till,  a  fly  stinging  his  nose,  he  took  one  of  his  hands 
from  the  side  of  his  head  to  drive  away  the  intruder. 


BISHOP    IIKRER.  167 

Just  at  that  moment,  the  preacher,  in  a  voice  that 
sounded  like  thunder,  read  his  text: — "He  that  hath 
ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear !"  The  impression  was  irre- 
sistible :  his  hands  no  longer  covered  his  ears :  a  new- 
sense  was  awakened  within  :  it  was  the  beginning  of 
days  to  him.  No  more  swearing,  no  more  drunkenness, 
but  prayer  and  hearing  the  word  of  God  occupied  his 
time;  and,  after  walking  with  God  for  eighteen  years, 
he  died  rejoicing  in  hope  and  blessing  God  for  the  minis- 
ter of  his  conversion. 


BISHOP  HEBER. 


Who  among  our  readers  can  be  ignorant  of  Bishop 
Heber's  missionary  hymn, — 

"From  Greenland's  icy  mountains"? 

Its  amiable  author  was  born  in  England  in  1783,  and 
was  educated  at  the  University  of  Oxford,  where  he 
took  his  degree  of  M.A.  in  1808,  and  was  soon  after 
presented  to  the  family  living  at  Hoclnet,  in  Shropshire. 
Here  he  discharged  his  parochial  duties  till  he  was  offered 
the  bishopric  of  Calcutta,  as  successor  to  Bishop  Middle- 
ton,  to  which  see  he  went  in  June,  1823.  In  1826  he 
travelled  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  and,  while 
bathing,  was  seized  with  apoplexy,  and  suddenly  died. 

The  hymn  which  may  be  regarded  as  his  best  monu- 
ment was  written  at  Hodnet,  to  be  sung  in  connection 
with   a  sermon  which   appealed  to  the  people  of  his 


168  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

charge,  in  1820,  on  behalf  of  missions.  He  had  not  the 
slightest  idea  that  what  was  written  only  for  a  small  vil- 
lage congregation  would  become  popular,  as  it  has  done, 
in  at  least  three-quarters  of  the  globe. 

The  original  manuscript  of  this  admirable  hymn  is 
yet,  with  a  thousand  others  of  like  character,  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  Eev.  Dr.  Eaffles,  of  Liverpool ;  and  from 
this  it  is  seen  that  the  line 

u  The  heathen  in  his  blindness" 

was  first  written, — 

"  The  pagan  in  his  blindness." 


REV.  GEORGE  HERBERT. 

Devotional  feeling  and  good  taste  have  transferred  a 
very  few  of  the  fine  hymns  of  this  good  old  poet  to  our 
books.  From  the  pen  of  a  grandson  of  the  venerated 
Andrew  Fuller,  we  chiefly  transcribe  a  very  few  lines  of 
this  scholar,  poet,  and  saint,  who  died  of  consumption  in 
the  trying  times  of  the  seventeenth  century. 

In  the  year  1630,  George  Herbert  went,  according  to 
a  custom  in  those  days,  to  toll  the  church-bell  at  the 
quiet  village  of  Bemerton,  about  one  mile  from  the  city 
of  Salisbury,  on  his  introduction  to  the  living.  He 
stayed  much  longer  than  usual  after  the  bell  had  ceased 
to  toll ;  and  one  of  his  friends,  alarmed  at  his  absence, 
looked  in  at  the  window  and  found  him  prostrate  at  the 


REV.  GEOEGE    HKRHKRT.  169 

altar  in  prayer.  On  this  same  Bight,  according  to  his 
biographer,  Izaak  Walton,  he  declared  that  "the  virtuous 
life  of  a  clergyman  was  the  most  powerful  eloquence  to 
persuade  all  that  see  it  to  reverence  and  love,  and  at 
hast  to  live  like  him;  and  this  will  I  do,  because  I  know 
we  live  in  an  age  that  hath  more  need  of  good  examples 
than  precepts." 

Well  indeed  did  Herbert  work  out  his  holy  resolu- 
tions. For  two  or  three  years  the  village  of  Bemerton 
was  blessed  with  a  ministry  so  self-denying,  and  with 
an  example  so  pure  and  gentle  in  its  manifestation  of 
the  Christian  graces,  that  the  memory  of  it  "is  as  oint- 
ment poured  forth."  Twice  every  day,  he,  with  his  wife 
and  child,  led  the  villagers  to  prayer,  and  every  Sabbath 
afternoon  questioned  them  on  the  verities  of  the  Christian 
faith.  There  was  not  a  cottage  in  the  village  or  neigh- 
borhood, where  want  and  sorrow  had  found  a  home,  that 
was  not  cheered  by  the  visits  of  this  holy  man.  He  was 
passionately  fond  of  music;  and  even  when  at  college 
this  was  his  chief  recreation.  Twice  every  week  he  was 
accustomed  to  walk  from  Bemerton  to  Salisbury  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  hearing  the  organ,  and  on  his  return  his 
soul  seemed  thrilled  with  ecstasy.  He  once  met  an  old 
man,  who,  with  his  horse,  had  fallen  on  the  road  and 
were  unable  to  get  on  their  feet  again.  Taking  off  his 
coat,  Herbert  set  manfully  to  work  and  soon  put  them 
all  right.  He  was,  however,  plastered  with  mud,  and 
arrived  in  Salisbury  with  a  most  uncanonical  appearance. 
On  his  friends  noticing  his  plight  and  asking  for  an  ex- 

15 


170  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    <»r    Il\M.\s. 

planation,he  told  them  the  story,  adding  that  the  thought 
of  what  he  had  done  would  prove  "  music  to  him  at  mid- 

night." 

Xo  one  can  regret  that  George  Herbert  was  called 
away  in  the  very  midst  of  his  holy  life,  before  the  time 
of  those  terrible  strifes  in  which  he  would  have  been  so 
ill  at  ease.  His  death  was  truly  calm  and  beautiful. 
The  Sabbath  preceding  it,  he  took  his  well-tuned  lute 
and  proceeded  to  play  and  sing, — 

"My  God,  my  God, 
My  music  shall  find  thee, 
And  every  string 
Shall  have  his  attribute  and  sing." 

On  the  day  of  his  death  he  declared,  "I  am  sorry  I 
have  nothing  to  present  to  God  but  sin  and  misery;  but 
the  first  is  pardoned,  and  a  few  hours  shall  put  a  period 
to  the  second."  How  beautifully  does  old  Izaak  Walton 
say,  "  I  wish,  if  God  be  so  pleased,  I  may  die  like  him" ! 

Perhaps  no  poet  has  ever  put  more  strong  stuff  into  a 
single  verse,  or  sometimes  line  or  half  a  line,  than  George 
Herbert.  It  is  not  the  music  of  the  rhythm,  or  the  even 
flow  of  the  words,  that  generally  charms,  but  that  each 
sentence  seems  like  a  sharp  thrust,  which  pierces  the 
inmost  recesses  of  the  moral  and  spiritual  life;  and  very 
often  the  gleam  on  the  weapon  is  most  golden.  Our 
readers  may  rest  assured  that  whenever  they  turn  to 
"  Herbert's  Temple"  they  will  find,  if  not  hymns  for 
the  "heart  and  voice,"  yet  always  hymns  for  the  heart. 


REV.    .JAMES    1IKRYKY.  171 

REV.  JAMES  HERVEY. 

Tins  eminently  pious  clergyman,  and,  for  the  day  in 
which  he  lived,  elegant  writer,  is  not  generally  known 
as  a  writer  of  hymns;  but  one  composition  of  his  being 
inserted  in  several  of  our  books  claims  that  his  name  be 
included  in  our  volume.  AVe  refer  to  the  hymn  begin- 
ning,— 

"Since  all  the  varying  scenes  of  time." 

Mr.  Hervey  was  born  in  1714,  was  educated  at  the 
University  of  Oxford,  ordained  in  the  Church  of  England, 
and  died  of  consumption  at  forty-four,  in  1758.  He  was 
a  fine  scholar  and  eminently  pious  and  benevolent.  His 
heart  was  so  set  on  the  relief  of  the  poor  that,  in  con- 
formity with  his  wish  to  die  "even  with  the  world,"  his 
income,  and  the  profits  derived  from  his  popular  and  use- 
ful works,  were  all  devoted  to  them.  He  wrote  several 
works,  which  long  had  an  extensive  circulation,  such  as 
u 'Meditations  among  the  Tombs"  "JZeflections  in  a  Flower- 
Garden/'  and  a  doctrinal  work  called  "Theron  and  As- 
pasio."  These  were  all  published,  in  seven  octavo  volumes, 
in  1796. 

Hervey  was  an  ardent  friend  of  Dr.  Doddridge  and  a 
fervent  admirer  of  George  Whitefield.  He  was  a  tall  and 
spectral-looking  man,  and  for  several  years  before  his 
decease  was  dying  daily.  He  had  a  very  graceful  elo- 
cution, and  was  listened  to  every  Sabbath  by  crowded 
congregations. 

It  is  pleasant  occasionally  to  meet  with  a  man  who 


172  LI   i  BORfi    AND    ORIGIN    Of    in  MNB 

can  form  a  OOrreet  estimate  of  hifl  OWB  talents;  and  tin- 
was  the  case  with  Hervey.  Speaking  of  himself  to  his 
biographer,  the  senior  John  Kyland,  he  said,  "My  friend, 
J  have  not  a  strong  mind;  I  have  not  powers  fitted  for 
ardent  researches;  but  I  think  I  have  a  power  of  writing 
in  somewhat  of  a  striking  manner,  so  far  as  to  p! 
mankind  and  recommend  my  dear  Redeemer." 


REV.  ROWLAND  HILL. 

This  distinguished  minister  of  Christ  had  but  a  small 
portion  of  poetical  talent:  he  was,  however,  fond  of 
writing  hymns.  Some  of  our  older  collections  contain 
the  truly  pious  composition, — 

"Dear  Friend  of  friendless  sinners,  hear," 

which  he  wrote  for  the  members  of  his  church  when  on 
a  sick-bed,  and  which,  it  is  said,  was  profitably  used  by 
many  of  them  in  their  dying  hours.  Multitudes  have 
passed  away  from  singing  of  "  the  promised  rest"  on 
earth  to  its  enjoyment  in  heaven.  His  best  biographer 
says,  "  No  one  acquainted  with  Mr.  Hill  can  read 
this  hymn  without  seeing  before  him  the  image  of  the 
writer  in  his  happiest  moments,  when  his  mind  was 
sweetly  and  graciously  subdued  by  the  power  of  the 
Divine  Spirit.  If  I  were  asked  for  a  description  of  Mr. 
Hill  when  'it  was  well  with  him,'  I  should  just  read 
this  short  composition.     It  possesses  the  pathos  of  the 


BISHOP    IIORNE.  173 

excellent  man  when  he  left  the  footstool  of  mercy  and 
immediately  ascended  the  sacred  desk." 

But  Mr.  Hill's  greatest  pleasure  of  this  kind  was  in 
connection  with  his  large  Sunday-schools.  lie  always 
had  an  annual  assemblage  of  the  children  and  their 
teachers  on  Easter  Monday  and  Tuesday,  when  he  com- 
posed a  hymn  to  be  sung,  which  he  printed  and  gratui- 
tously distributed.  These  little  compositions  were  much 
valued  by  the  young  people,  who  were  addressed  from 
the  text  of  Scripture  printed  at  the  head  of  the  hymn. 
Mr.  Weight  tells  us,  in  his  funeral  service  for  the  vene- 
rable man,  that,  on  the  Easter  Tuesday  only  two  days 
preceding  his  death,  he  deeply  regretted  his  inability  to 
engage  in  his  usual  services.  "He  stood  at  his  drawing- 
room  window  and  saw  the  dear  little  children  thronging 
the  chapel-yard,  and  spoke  with  much  delight  of  by-gone 
days,  when  he  had  met  them  and  preached  to  them  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

Mr.  Hill,  in  1798, — two  years  before  the  death  of 
Cowper, — published  a  small  volume  of  "Divine  Hymns  for 
Children"  which  the  poet  kindly  revised,  and  concerning 
which  a  letter  distinguished  by  his  characteristic  humor 
is  still  in  existence. 


BISHOP  HORNE. 

This  valued  prelate,  who  died  in  1792,  aged  sixty-two 

years,  wrote  a  very  few  good   hymns,  one  of  which, 

greatly  abridged  from  the  original,  begins, — 

15* 


174  \l    rHOBfl     AM>    ORIGIN    i,F     ||W 

•  See  the  leaves  around  us  falling.*" 

It  has,  however,  been  properly  said  that  the  purity  of 
his  taste  was  somewhat  warped  by  the  age  in  which  he 
lived.  The  bishop  shines  most  eminently  in  his  work 
on  the  Psalms,  in  writing  which  he  took  his  highest 
pleasure,  and  said  that,  if  it  pleased  God,  he  would  rejoice 
to  die  in  meditating  on  this  portion  of  his  word. 


REV.  JOSEPH  HUMPHRIES 

was  one  of  the  early  Calvinistic  Methodist  preachers  of 
the  last  century.     He  wrote  the  hymn, — 

•'  Blessed  are  the  sons  of  God,'? 

and  a  few  others,  which  were  published  at  the  end  of 
Cennick's  hymns  in  1743.  He  died  in  London,  and  was 
buried  in  the  Moravian  cemetery  at  Chelsea. 


REV.  G.  B.  IDE,  D.D. 


This  popular  Baptist  minister,  author  of  several  hymns 
bearing  his  name,  most  of  which  are  printed  in  lk  The 
Baptist  Harp,"  a  selection  of  hymns  edited  by  himself,  is 
a  native  of  Vermont,  and  has  labored  in  the  ministry  for 
many  years  at  Albany,  Boston,  Philadelphia,  and  Spring- 
field in  Massachusetts,  in  which  places  he  has  been 
favored  with  much  success. 


kkv     KDMUND  70NX8  IT-") 

REV.  WILLIAM  JAY. 

"Come,  thou  soul-transforming  Spirit/' 

is  one  of  about  twenty  similar  compositions  from  the  pen 
of  this  late  eminent  preacher,  who  was  born  of  very 
humble  parents  in  1770,  and  died  at  Bath,  in  England, 
alter  a  ministry  in  one  edifice  of  sixty-three  years,  in 
1854,  aged  eighty-four  years.  Few  men  were  more  dis- 
tinguished for  a  catholic  spirit  and  constant  pulpit-labor. 
He  never  forgot,  when  he  ascended  his  "throne/' — as  he 
regarded  it, — that  he  had  men,  women,  and  children  hang- 
ing upon  his  lips;  and,  instead  of  discoursing  before  them, 
he  addressed  himself  to  them.  "Whatever  might  be  his 
theme,  he  intermixed  statements  and  illustrations  which 
at  once  explained  the  subject,  touched  the  springs  of 
human  sympathy,  and  conveyed  important  suggestions 
for  the  conduct  of  life. 


REV.  EDMUND  JONES. 

Several    of    our    hymn-books    contain    a    universal 
favorite,  beginning,  as  published  by  its  author, — 

"Come,  humble  sinner,  in  whose  breast." 

This  hymn  was  written,  with  one  or  two  others  of  like 
character,  by  the  Eev.  Edmund  Jones,  a  highly-popular 
Welsh  Baptist  preacher  of  the  last  century.  He  was 
eminent  for  his  piety  and  a  remarkably  amiable  temper; 


171)  AUTHORS    AND   OUCH    i»f    HYMNS. 

and  his  death,  though  at  a  very  advanced  age,  wi 

source  of  very  extensive  grief.  AYe  believe  that  the  only 
productions  of  his  pen,  in  addition  to  the  hymns  to  which 
we  have  referred,  were  contained  in  a  pamphlet  of  ninety 
pages,  a  copy  of  which  may  be  found  in  the  library  of 
the  American  Baptist  Publication  Society  in  Philadel- 
phia, the  whole  title  of  which  we  will  transcribe: — 
"Samson's  Hair,  an  Eminent  I.'  turn  of  the  Church 

of  God.  In  two  parts.  To  which  is  [are]  added  Two  Ser- 
mons :  First,  showing  the  Evil  Nature  and  Hurtful  Effects 
of  Unbelief;  Second,  On  God's  Subduing  and  Keeping 
under  the  Strong  Corruptions  of  his  People,  and  Healing 
Them.  By  Edmund  Jones,  Minister  of  the  Gospel. — Trevecka: 
printed  in  the  year  [MDCCLXXYII." 

The  two  sermons  on  Samson's  hair  were  preceded  by 
warm  recommendations  from  the  pens  of  two  veiy  re- 
spectable ministers,  as  well  as  a  preface  from  the  author, 
enforcing  the  importance  of  his  subject.  The  sermons 
furnish  fair  specimens  of  the  spiritualizing  tendency  of 
that  age,  and  suggest  the  propriety  of  combining  the 
piety  of  the  past  with  the  intellectual  strength  of  the 
present. 


REV.  ADONIRAM  JUDSON,  D.D. 

Though  we  have  two  hymns  written  by  this  excellent 
Christian  missionary,  both  of  them  on  baptism,  we  can 
scarcely  claim  for  him  the  honors  of  a  poet.     His  glory 


REV.    THOMAS    KELLY.  1  ,7 

was  of  a  far  higher  character.  He  was  the  son  of  an 
excellent  Congregational  minister  in  Massachusetts,  and 
graduated  at  Brown  University,  intending  to  pursue  the 
profession  of  the  law.  Converted  by  the  grace  of  God, 
he  changed  his  design,  and  went  to  study  theology  at 
Andover.  While  here,  the  missionary  spirit  was  excited, 
and  several  of  the  students  offered  themselves  for  labor 
in  foreign  lands;  and  the  Board  of  Commissioners  fur 
Foreign  Missions  sent  Judson  and  several  others  to  India. 
On  their  way,  Mr.  Judson,  Mr.  Rice,  and  their  wives  be- 
came Baptists.  His  life  was  devoted  to  preaching  in 
Burmah,  and  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  in  which 
he  spent  nearly  forty  years.  He  had  in  his  composition 
all  the  elements  of  a  hero;  and  he  who  would  look  for  a 
rare  specimen  of  a  life  consecrated  to  noble  aims,  in- 
spired with  an  elevated  self-devotion,  and  exercising  an 
energy  seldom  witnessed  among  men,  must  contemplate 
the  lion-hearted  missionary  of  Burmah.  Dr.  Judson  died 
at  sea,  when  bound  to  the  island  of  Bourbon  for  his 
health,  in  1850. 


REV.  THOMAS  KELLY. 

This  gentleman,  one  of  the  most  prolific  and  popular 
hymn-writers  of  the  last  and  present  generations,  was 
the  son  of  Judge  Kelly,  of  Ireland.  From  a  very  early 
age  he  had  powerful  impressions  of  eternal  realities,  and 
was  regarded  as  a  very  religious  young  man.    His  father 


178  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

had  intended  him  for  the  bur,  but  his  own  heart  WM 
fixed  on  the  pulpit.  Having,  in  1793,  been  orduined  in 
the  Established  Church,  he  commenced  preaching  in 
Dublin,  and  met  with  great  opposition  from  his  family 
for  preaching  the  doctrine  of  justification  by  faith;  so 
that  he  often  said  that  to  have  gone  to  the  stake  would 
have  been  a  less  trial  to  him  than  to  have  set  himself 
against  those  he  dearly  loved. 

Crowds  of  persons  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  listened 
to  the  fervent  appeals  which  Mr.  Kelly  made  to  their 
consciences;  but  before  long  he  was  much  opposed  by 
his  superiors  in  the  Church,  and  compelled  to  leave  the 
Establishment,  though  he  never  dissented  from  its  doc- 
trines. He  continued  to  labor  in  Dublin  for  more  than 
sixty  years,  during  which  time  it  was  testified  by  many 
that  he  never  seemed  to  waste  an  hour.  His  talents 
were  of  a  high  order,  and  his  attainments  very  consider- 
able. Music  was  with  him  not  merely  a  recreation,  but, 
like  his  other  talents,  was  consecrated  to  the  glory  of 
God.  A  volume  of  airs  which  he  composed  to  some  of 
his  hymns  were  remarkable  for  much  simplicity  and 
sweetness.  As  a  Christian  he  was  distinguished  for  his 
humility,  and  used  to  rejoice  that  the  Israelites  who 
stood  the  farthest  from  the  brazen  serpent  might  look 
at  it  with  the  same  benefit  as  those  who  were  near.  He 
lived  almost  constantly  in  prayer. 

While  preaching  to  his  own  congregation,  in  October, 
1854,  Mr.  Kelly  was  seized  with  a  slight  stroke  of  para- 
lysis, which  gradually  lessened  his  strength  till  he  died, 


BISHOP    KEN.  179 

May  14,  185"),  aged  eighty-six  years.  On  his  death-bed 
he  was  Bweetly  composed;  and,  when  the  words  of  the 
Psalmist  were  repeated  to  him,  "The  Lord  ie  my  Shep- 
herd ;  I  shall  not  want/'  he  replied,  "  The  Lord  is  my 
every  thing." 

It  is  said  of  Mr.  Kelly  that  he  allowed  no  opportunity 
for  doing  good  to  pass  unimproved,  but  even  when  it 
would  have  been  inexpedient  to  attempt  more  he  would 
drop  a  gentle  hint.  He  had  an  admirable  tact  in  adapt- 
ing his  mode  of  address  to  the  parties  he  incidentally 
spoke  to.  Lord  Plunket,  so  well  known  for  his  puns, 
was  a  schoolfellow  with  Mr.  Kelly,  and  their  occasional 
recognition  of  each  other  continued  through  life.  His 
lordship,  once  meeting  Mr.  Kelly,  told  him  he  thought 
he  would  live  to  a  great  age.  He  replied,  "  I  am  confi- 
dent I  shall,  as  I  expect  never  to  die."  The  nobleman 
said,  "  Oh,  I  see  what  you  mean." 

Mr.  Kelly's  hymns  are  well  known,  and  so  much  es- 
teemed that  no  reader  would  wish  to  lose  them. 


BISHOP  KEN. 


The  poet  Montgomery  has  very  properly  remarked 
that  what  is  usually  called  the  long  metre  doxology, — 

"Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow,"  etc., 

lias  probably  been  more  used  than  any  other  composition 
in  the  world,  the  Lord's  prayer  excepted.  It  was  written 
by  Bishop  Ken,  a  very  high  Churchman — frequently  ac- 


L80  AUTHOEfl   AM)   uun.ix    01   BTMM8. 

cased  of  Romanism — of  the  seventeenth  century.  The 
bishop  wrote  three  hymns  of  the  same  metre  for  niorn- 
iag,  evening,  and  midnight,  each  of  which  was  closed 
with  the  doxology.  The  hymns  are  seldom  read;  but 
the  doxology,  which  has  appeared  to  the  most  rigid 
critics  almost  perfect  in  its  character,  will  probably  be 
used  till  the  end  of  time. 

Bishop  Ken  was  born  in  1637  and  died  in  1710.  About 
17G0  he  was  appointed  chaplain  to  the  Princess  of 
Orange,  and  went  to  Holland,  where  she  then  resided. 
Here  Ken  compelled  a  favorite  courtier  to  fulfil  a  con- 
tract of  marriage  with  a  young  lady  of  her  train  whom 
he  had  seduced.  His  zeal  in  this  matter  gave  such 
offence  to  the  prince,  afterward  William  III.,  that  he 
threatened  to  turn  him  out  of  the  service, — on  which 
Ken  begged  the  princess  to  allow  him  to  resign;  nor 
would  he  consent  to  return  till  entreated  by  the  prince 
to  do  so. 

In  1681  Ken  was  appointed  chaplain  to  King  Charles 
II.,  and  on  the  removal  of  the  court  to  Winchester  to 
the  summer,  Ken's  house  was  fixed  upon  as  the 
residence  of  the  celebrated  Xell  Gwynne,  Charles's  mis- 
- ;  but  the  inflexible  clergyman  positively  refused  her 
admittance;  this,  instead  of  offending  that  profligate 
monarch,  led  him,  soon  after,  to  appoint  him  Bishop  of 
Bath  and  Wells. 

In  1685  James  II.  ascended  the  throne,  and  Ken  be- 
came his  chaplain  also.  One  day  the  king  was  absent, 
and  the  enemies  of  the  bishop  complained  to  the  king 


BISHOP   KEN.  181 

of  his  sermon.  The  prelate  remarked  that  "  if  his  ma- 
jesty had  not  neglected  his  own  duty  of  being  present; 
his  enemies  would  have  missed  this  opportunity  of  ac- 
cusing him."  When  the  king  ordered  the  well-known 
Declaration  of  Indulgence  to  be  read,  Ken  and  six  other 
bishops  refused  to  comply,  and  were  sent  to  the  Tower; 
but  on  trial  the  jury  acquitted  them.  When  James  abdi- 
cated the  throne  and  the  Prince  of  Orange  went  to  Eng- 
land as  William  III.,  Ken  vacated  his  bishopric  rather 
than  swear  allegiance  to  his  new  sovereign,  as  he  did 
not  believe  that  he  could  free  himself  from  the  alle- 
giance he  had  sworn  to  James  wThile  he  was  yet  living. 
He  lived  in  comparative  retirement  till  his  death. 

The  volume  which  contained  the  hymns  to  which  the 
doxology  was  appended  was  entitled  "A  Manual  of 
Prayer  for  the  Use  of  the  Scholars  of  Winchester  College" — 
of  which  Whitefield  speaks  as  having  been  very  useful 
to  him  in  the  early  period  of  his  college  life. 

Some  of  our  readers  at  least  will  thank  us  for  giving 
at  length  Montgomery's  remarks  on  "  The  Doxology,"  of 
which  he  says,  it  "  is  a  masterpiece  at  once  of  amplifica- 
tion and  compression.  Of  amplification,  on  the  burden 
'Praise  God/  repeated  in  each  line;  compression,  exhibit- 
ing God  as  the  object  of  praise  in  every  view  in  which 
we  can  imagine  praise  due  to  him, — for  all  his  blessings, 
yea,  for  all  blessings,  none  coming  from  any  other  source: 
praise  by  every  creature,  specifically  invoked  here  below 
and  in  heaven  '  above :'  praise  to  him  in  each  of  the  cha- 
racters wherein  he  has  revealed  himself  in  hie  word, — 

16 


182  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

*  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.'  Yet  this  comprehensive 
verse  is  sufficiently  simple  that,  by  it,  *  out  of  the  mouths 
of  babes  and  sucklings/  God  may  <  perfect  praise  f  and 
it  appears  so  easy  that  one  is  tempted  to  think  hun- 
dreds of  the  sort  might  be  made  without  trouble.  The 
reader  has  only  to  try,  and  he  will  be  quickly  unde- 
ceived :  the  longer  he  tries,  the  more^  difficult  he  will 
find  the  task  to  be." 

It  has  been  said  that  Bishop  Ken  was  accustomed  to 
remark  that  it  would  enhance  his  joy  in  heaven  to  listen 
to  his  morning  and  evening  hymns  as  sung  by  the  faith- 
ful on  earth. 


JOHN  KENT. 

The  author  of  the  hymn, — 

"  Where  two  or  three  together  meet, 

was  an  humble  man,  of  very  humble  origin.  He  was 
born  in  Bideford,  England,  1766,  and  died  in  1843.  He 
never  aspired  to  a  pulpit,  and  only  occupied  a  position 
as  a  shipwright.  His  life  was  marked  by  much  afflic- 
tion, and  at  sixty  he  became  blind.  He  published  a 
hymn-book  in  1803,  in  which  he  proved  that  the  great 
mystery  of  redeeming  love  through  the  atoning  sacrifice 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  was  the  joy  of  his  soul.  In  his  last 
hour  he  extended  his  hand,  cold  with  death,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  I  rejoice  in  hope ! — I  am  accepted, — accepted  !" 
gathered  up  his  feet,  and  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-seven  years. 


FRANCIS    B.    KEY.  183 

FRANCIS  S.  KEY. 

In  one  or  two  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  collections 
of  hymns  may  be  found  one  beginning, — 

"If  life's  pleasures  charm  thee, 
Give  them  not  thy  heart, 
Lest  the  gift  ensnare  thee 
From  thy  God  to  part. 
His  favor  seek, 
His  praises  speak, 
Fix  here  thy  hope's  foundation ; 
Serve  Him,  and  He 
Will  ever  be 
The  Rock  of  thy  salvation." 

It  came  from  the  pen  of  the  author  of  the  well-known 
"Star-Spangled  Banner ;"  and,  if  the  last-named  compo- 
sition shows  the  graceful  patriot,  the  hymn  certainly 
displays  the  spirit  of  the  Christian.  This  was  still  fur- 
ther manifested  in  a  scene  about  the  year  1835,  as  thus 
described  by  the  clergyman  officially  engaged.  He 
says,  "  I  stood  within  the  railing,  at  the  side  of  the  com- 
munion-table, and  had  administered  the  sacred  elements 
to  all,  it  seemed,  who  desired  to  partake  of  them.  Just 
then,  however,  as  though  previously  restrained  by  pro- 
found humility,  a  stranger  approached  the  altar,  knelt 
all  alone,  and  so  received  the  holy  memorials  of  our  Sa- 
viour's suffering  and  death.  I  trust  the  service  was  one 
of  true  faith,  and  that  the  result  was  one  of  great  peace 
and  comfort.  That  last  communicant  was  the  same 
person, — the  distinguished  poet,  the  accomplished  lawyer 
and  orator,  the  modest  Christian,  Francis  S.  Key." 


184  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

REV.  WILLIAM  KINGSBURY. 

The  beautiful  character  of  the  hymns, — 

"  Let  us  awake  our  joys," 
and 

"Great  God  of  all  thy  churches,  hear," 

make  us  deeply  regret  that  we  have  no  others  from  the 
pen  of  their  excellent  author.  We  believe  we  are  cor- 
rect in  speaking  of  them  as  from  the  Rev.  William  Kings- 
bury, for  forty-five  years  the  pastor  of  the  church  at 
Southampton,  to  which  the  distinguished  Dr.  Watts  and 
his  honored  parents  had  formerly  belonged.  Mr.  Kings- 
bury was  born  in  London  in  1744,  entered  on  his  studies 
for  the  ministry  at  Homerton  College  before  he  was  truly 
a  Christian,  was  brought  to  the  cross  of  Christ  by  most 
remarkably  being  led  to  read  the  works  of  John  Bunyan, 
was  ordained  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  died 
in  1818,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four,  having  spent  the 
whole  forty-five  years  of  his  pastoral  life  in  one  pulpit. 
Mr.  Kingsbury  had  the  honor  of  being  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  London  Missionary  Society  in  1795,  being  chair- 
man of  its  first  meeting.  His  biographer  tells  us  that  "  he 
was  confined  to  his  bed  for  one  day  only  before  his  dis- 
solution. He  suffered  no  acute  pain.  On  the  Sunday 
before  he  died,  when  one  of  his  sons  said,  'How  do  you 
do,  sir  V  he  replied,  l  Well  j  for  I  have  peace  with  God.' 
He  expressed  an  earnest  wish  to  obtain  his  dismission, 
and  frequently  was  heard  to  say,  '  When  will  he  come  V 
One  of  his  attendants,  supposing  him  to  inquire  after 


REV.    ANDREW    KIPPIS,    D.D.  185 

one  of  his  sons  who  was  hourly  expected  from  London, 
said,  '  We  look  for  him  every  minute/  He  shook  his 
head,  saying,  'No,  no  :  when  will  my  Beloved  come?'  " 
His  senses  remained  to  the  last  moment  of  life.  He 
kissed  the  hand  of  his  affectionate  and  only  remaining 
daughter,  and  made  a  sign  that  his  son  "Walter  should 
offer  prayer.  While  this  was  being  done,  the  happy 
man,  his  hands  and  eyes  lifted  up  in  the  attitude  of  de- 
votion, drew  a  long  breath,  and,  without  a  groan  or  con- 
vulsion, expired. 


REV.  ANDREW  KIPPIS,  D.D. 

The  hymn, — 

"Great  God,  in  vain  man's  narrow  view," 

and  one  or  two  others  used  in  our  evangelical  churches, 
were  from  the  pen  of  this  gentleman.  He  was  born  at 
Nottingham,  England,  in  1725,  and  studied  for  the 
ministry  under  Dr.  Doddridge.  In  1753  he  was  ordained 
over  an  Arian  congregation  in  Westminster,  which  he 
relinquished  for  scholastic  duties  ten  years  after.  He 
wrote  many  miscellaneous  books,  and  the  lives  of  Dod- 
dridge, Lardner,  Pringle,  and  Cook,  and  conducted  the 
five  volumes  which  were  published  of  the  "  Biographia 
Br'dannica."  Though  the  writer  of  a  few  respectable 
hymns,  he  was  no  poet. 

16* 


186  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN   OF    IIYMNS. 

REV.  MR.  KIRKHAM. 

Of  this  gentleman  we  know  nothing  more  than  that 
he  was  the  author  of  the  hymn, — 

•  How  firm  a  foundation,  ye  saints  of  the  Lord," 

which  was  first  printed  in  "Rippon's  Selection"  in  1787. 

Though  we  have  no  certain  evidence  of  the  fact,  we 
believe  that  Mr.  Kirkham  was  a  fellow-student  with  the 
Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  George  Whitefield,  and 
Mr.  Morgan,  and  one  of  the  first  of  "  the  people  called 
Methodists." 


REV.  JOHN  LANGFORD. 

The  authorship  of  the  favorite  hymn, — 

"Now  begin  the  heavenly  theme," 

has  been  usually  claimed  for  this  writer,  though  we  have 
more  than  once  found  it  attributed  to  Madan.  Langford 
was  connected  with  the  early  Methodists,  but  afterward 
united  with  the  Baptist  Church  in  Eagle  (now  Kings- 
gate)  Street,  London,  under  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  Andrew 
Gifford.  He  was  for  many  years  pastor  of  several 
churches  in  London,  and  died  about  1790.  He  preached 
and  printed  a  sermon  on  the  death  of  Whitefield.  He 
was  long  remembered  as  a  man  of  great  spirituality  and 
Christian  meekness. 


REV.    JOHN    LOGAN.  187 

REV.  JOHN  LELAND. 

Those  of  our  readers  who  are  acquainted  with  Baptist 
history  have  read  of  the  Eev.  John  Leland,  an  eminent 
minister  of  that  body,  who  labored  successfully  for 
many  years,  and  died  in  the  year  1841.  On  a  tour 
among  the  churches  of  the  South  in  1779,  he  had  occa- 
sion to  baptize  a  number  of  disciples.  It  was  winter, 
and  a  liquid  grave  had  to  be  cut  in  the  ice.  A  brother 
in  the  ministry  preached  for  him.  During  the  sermon, 
Leland  wrote  the  first  three  verses  of  a  hymn,  that  was 
afterward  extended  to  six,  still  well  known  among 
some  of  the  Baptist  churches.  Approaching  the  water 
at  the  head  of  a  number  of  candidates,  Leland  read  his 
hymn,  beginning, — 

"Christians,  if  your  hearts  are  warm, 
Ice  and  snow  can  do  no  harm: 
If  by  Jesus  you  are  prized, 
Now  arise  and  be  baptized,"  etc. 

He  struck  up  a  familiar  tune,  and,  as  the  good  old 
people  used  to  say,  "lined  out  the  hymn;"  and  it  was  sung 
then,  as  it  has  often  been  since,  with  no  small  degree  of 
earnestness. 


REV.  JOHN  LOGAN, 

The  author  of  the  hymn, — 

"Where  high  the  heavenly  temple  stands, 


188  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

and  several  others,  was  a  native  of  Mid-Lothian,  in  Scot- 
land, was  educated  at  Edinburgh,  became  minister  at 
South  Leith  in  1770,  and  died  in  1788,  aged  about  forty 
years.  He  was  distinguished  as  a  general  writer,  and 
was  a  respectable  poet.  He  was  also  the  author  of  two 
volumes  of  sermons,  still  held  in  reputation. 


HENRY  W.  LONGFELLOW. 

"  The  Psalm  of  Life"  of  this  author, — 

'*  Tell  me  not,  in  mournful  numbers," 

and  some  other  productions  of  his  elegant  pen,  are 
to  be  found  in  several  of  our  books,  and  on  many  ac- 
counts greatly  please  us, — though  we  think  that,  like  the 
rest  of  his  Unitarian  brethren,  he  is  sadly  lacking  in  the 
noble,  generous,  high  spirit  of  evangelical  truth.  The 
son  of  the  Hon.  Stephen  Longfellow,  of  Portland,  Maine, 
Henry  was  born  in  that  city  in  1807.  Of  very  high  edu- 
cation himself,  his  life  in  various  ways  has  been  devoted 
to  the  advancement  of  that  great  cause.  His  poetical 
works  have  been  numerous  and  beautiful;  and  of  them 
the  editor  of  the  "  Men  of  the  Time"  truly  says,  "  Long- 
fellow's poems  have,  together  with  great  picturesque  and 
dramatic  beauty,  a  simplicity  and  truth  to  nature  which 
commend  them  alike  to  the  rudest  and  to  the  most  cul- 
tivated. The  tenderness  and  melancholy  pleasure  with 
which,  in  many  of  his  works,  he  dwells  upon  a  poetical 


ANN    LUTTON.  189 

aspiration  or  an  historical  incident,  have,  however, 
proved  a  stumbling-block  to  many  of  his  countrymen, 
who  demand  more  freshness,  and  an  onward  direction 
of  the  poet's  eye." 


ANN  LUTTON. 

We  confess  to  feeling  something  of  a  personal  interest 
in  the  beautiful  and  popular  hymn, — 

11  When  torn  is  the  bosom  by  sorrow  or  care." 

For  ten  years — 1832  to  1841 — we  had  the  pleasure  of 
conducting  in  London  a  small  monthly  magazine  called 
"  The  Revivalist"  In  1834,  at  the  request  of  several 
honored  friends,  we  began  to  give  a  number  of  new 
hymns  adapted  to  popular — but,  as  they  were  generally 
employed,  useless — airs.  In  this  we  were  aided  by  several 
of  our  correspondents,  among  whom  was  a  new  one, 
whom  to  this  day  we  have  never  seen, — Miss  Ann  Lutton, 
of  Ireland.  She  wrote  for  us  the  beautiful  hymn  on 
prayer  to  which  we  have  referred,  adapted  to  the  air 
of  "  Sweet  Home." 

There  is  something  impressive  in  the  thought  that, 
when  we  commit  to  paper  what  we  may  consider  a  mere 
trifle,  we  know  not  the  extent  of  its  diffusion  or  its  ef- 
fects. Who  shall  calculate  the  usefulness  of  the  hun- 
dreds of  thousands  of  copies  of  this  hymn  now  before 
the  public,  to  say  nothing  of  millions  yet  to  be  pub- 
lished ? 


190  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS 

REV.  HENRY  FRANCIS  LYTE. 

We  have  just  turned  to  three  separate  hymn-books  in 
reference  to  the  hynin, — 

"Jesus,  I  my  cross  have  taken," 

and  find  it  attributed  respectively  to  Montgomery,  to 
the  Hon.  Miss  Grant,  and  to  her  brother,  Lord  Glenelg. 
In  each  of  these  cases  the  reference  is  wrong.  It  was 
published  by  its  author,  already  named,  in  1833,  in  a  vo- 
lume of  "  Poems,  Chiefly  Religious"  at  much  greater  length 
than  it  is  usually  given.  Its  author  was  a  young  man  of 
feeble  health,  but  of  high  promise.  He  was  born  at  Kelso, 
in  Scotland,  in  1793,  and  in  1812  entered  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Dublin.  Having  been  ordained  in  the  Established 
Church,  he  settled  as  curate  in  Devonshire,  but  was  com- 
pelled to  spend  the  larger  portion  of  his  future  life  in 
travelling  for  his  health.  He  died  in  1847,  and  was 
buried  in  the  English  Cemetery  at  Xice.  He  published 
a  metrical  version  of  the  Psalms,  and  a  number  of  beau- 
tiful hymns. 


MRS.  MACKAY. 

The  sweet  and  consolatory  hymn, — 

"  Asleep  in  Jesus  !  blessed  sleep  !" 

is  from  the  pen  of  Mrs.  Mackay,  a   Christian  lady  of 
Scotland,  authoress  of  several  very  pleasing  volumes  of 


REV.    MARTIN    MADAN.  191 

a  religious  character.  It  originated  in  a  visit  to  a  bury- 
ing-ground  in  the  west  of  England,  an  account  of  which 
the  reader  will  be  pleased  to  see  from  the  authoress's 
own  pen : — 

"'Sleeping  in  Jesus/ 

"  This  simple  inscription  is  carved  on  a  tombstone  in 
the  retired  rural  burying-ground  of  Pennycross  Chapel, 
in  Devonshire.  Distant  only  a  few  miles  from  a  bustling 
and  crowded  seaport  town,  reached  through  a  succession 
of  those  lovely  green  lanes  for  which  Devonshire  is  so 
remarkable,  the  quiet  aspect  of  Pennycross  comes  sooth- 
ingly over  the  mind.  '  Sleeping  in  Jesus'  seems  in  keep- 
ing with  all  around. 

"  Here  was  no  elaborate  ornament,  no  unsightly  decay. 
The  trim  gravel  walk  led  to  the  house  of  prayer,  itself 
boasting  of  no  architectural  embellishment  to  distinguish 
it;  and  a  few  trees  were  planted  irregularly  to  mark 
some  favored  spots." 


REV.  MARTIN  MADAN. 

This  gentleman,  who  was  born  in  1726,  was  eminent 
in  his  day  both  as  a  preacher  and  a  writer  of  hymns. 
Like  many  other  Christians,  his  conversion  took  place 
in  a  remarkable  manner.  The  preaching  of  the  first 
Methodists,  as  is  well  known,  excited  almost  universal 
attention.  Madan  was  then  a  gay  young  man ;  and, 
being  in  company  one  evening,  in  a  coffee-house,  with 


192  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

■ome  of  his  companions,  he  was  requested  to  go  and 
hear  Mr.  John  AVesley  preach,  that  he  might  exhibit  his 
sermon  and  manner  for  their  amusement.  He  went 
with  that  intention;  but  just  as  he  entered  the  place  Mr. 
AYesley  read  as  his  text  the  words,  "  Prepare  to  meet 
thy  God/'  with  a  solemnity  which  greatly  struck  him 
and  inspired  a  seriousness  which  increased  as  the  ser- 
mon proceeded.  He  returned  to  his  companions;  and 
when  they  asked  him,  "  Have  you  taken  the  old  Method- 
ist off?"  his  reply  was,  "  Xo,  gentlemen ;  but  he  has  taken 
me  off."  He  immediately  withdrew  from  their  society, 
and  associated  only  with  the  followers  of  Christ. 

Mr.  Madan  was  a  gentleman  of  independent  fortune, 
and  soon  resolved  to  enter  the  ministry  in  connection  with 
the  Established  Church.  His  brother  was  at  that  time 
the  Bishop  of  Peterborough ;  but  Madan  would  accept  of 
no  honors  in  the  Church.  Owing  to  his  decided  evan- 
gelical doctrines,  he  found  some  difficulty  in  obtaining 
ordination,  but  at  length  succeeded  through  the  influence 
of  the  Countess  of  Huntingdon.  He  was  soon  after  ap- 
pointed chaplain  of  the  Lock  Hospital,  near  Hyde  Park 
Corner,  in  London,  an  institution  for  the  restoration  of 
unhappy  females ;  and  before  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice  he  preached  to  its  inmates  from  a  desk  in  the 
parlor,  where  he  was  frequently  assisted  by  Mr.  Pomaine 
and  Dr.  Haweis. 

Mr.  Madan,  in  the  peculiar  situation  he  occupied,  saw 
so  much  of  the  evils  of  prostitution  that  he  was  unhap- 
pily led  to  write  a  volume  in  favor  of  polygamy,  and 


KEY.   JOHN    MA80N.  193 

from  that  time  he  lost  his  friends \  so  that  we  afterward 

hear  but  little  of  him.     He  died  in  1790.     We  yet  sing 
several  of  his  hymns. 


REV.  BASIL  MANLY,  JR. 

This  gentleman,  in  connection  with  his  excellent  fa- 
ther, is  editor  of  "  TJie  Baptist  Psalmody,"  an  admirable 
selection  of  hymns  recently  published  by  the  Southern 
Baptist  Publication  Society  in  Charleston,  S.C.,  and 
already  introduced  into  many  of  the  Baptist  churches  in 
that  region.  Some  of  the  hymns  in  the  volume  are 
from  the  pen  of  the  junior  editor,  and  are  distinguished 
for  sound  doctrine,  earnestness,  and  devotion.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  services  which  3Ir.  Manly  has  thus  rendered 
to  the  churches,  he  has  most  laboriously  devoted  himself 
to  the  pulpit  and  to  the  cause  of  Christian  education. 


REV.  JOHN  MASON, 

Of  whose  good  old  hymns  we  are  yet  favored  with  a 
few,  including, — 

"Come,  dearest  Lord,  and  feed  thy  sheep," 
and 

"  Now,  from  the  altar  of  our  hearts," 

was  for  twenty  years  rector  of  Water-Stratford,  Eng- 
land, where  he  died  in  1694.     Xot  a  few  of  the  lines  of 

17 


194  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    01    HYMNS. 

Dr.  Watts  were  borrowed  from  him.     lie  himself  pub- 
lished a  hymn-book  in  1086,  entitled  "Spiritual  Song*" 
The  well-known  verse, — 

"Mercy,  good  Lord,  mercy  I  ask," 

usually  sung  in  England  years  ago  at  the  execution  of 
criminals,  and  equally  appropriate  for  sinners  of  every 
class,  proceeded  from  his  pen. 


REV.  SAMUEL  MEDLEY. 

We  have  in  most  of  our  books  two  hymns  beginning 

with, — 

"Mortals,  awake!  with  angels  join," 
and 

"  Awake,  my  soul,  in  joyful  lays, 

and  one  or  two  others,  written  by  the  Eev.  Samuel  Med- 
ley,  twenty-seven  years  pastor  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  at  Liverpool,  England,  and  during  about  the 
same  period  a  regular  annual  supply  at  Whiteficld's 
Tabernacle  and  Tottenham  Court  Eoad  Chapel,  in  Lon- 
don. In  early  life  Mr.  Medley  was  very  gay  and  pro- 
fane. He  was  engaged  in  the  British  navy,  where  he  was 
severely  wounded  in  one  of  the  several  actions  in  which 
he  fought.  Returning  to  his  pious  grandfather's  house 
for  the  sake  of  surgical  attendance,  he  was  brought 
under  the  preaching  of  the  excellent  Whitefield  and  Dr. 
Gifford,  and  was  soon  led  to  the  Saviour  whose  name  he 
had  so  often  blasphemed.     He  died,  after  a  very  sue* 


HKV.     11KNRY    II.     MILMAN.  195 

fal  ministry,  in  1799,  aged  nxty-one  years.  Jn  the  year 
following  his  death,  a  volume  of  original  hymns  from 
bis  pen  was  issued,  very  few  of  which  are  now  valued. 

lie  also  published  two  or  three  sermons,  and  several 
humorous  papers.  He  was  eccentric  in  his  manners, 
but  had  a  pious  soul  and  a  noble  heart. 

A  deceased  critic  once  remarked  to  us  that  were  the 
hymn  we  have  first  referred  to  deprived  of  its  title, 
"  The  Incarnation  of  Christ,''  a  stranger  might  be  ready 
to  inquire,  "  To  what  subject  does  it  relate  ?" 


REV.  HENRY  H.  MILMAN. 

That  the  Dean  of  St.  Paul's,  London,  is  a  poet,  none  of 
his  readers  will  doubt.  A  clergyman  of  the  English  Esta- 
blished Church,  a  dramatist,  historian,  Professor  of  Poetry 
in  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  holding  several  other 
important  preferments,  his  reputation  is  high,  and  in 
some  departments  will  no  doubt  be  enduring.  What  a 
writer  in  the  "  Quarterly  Review"  says  of  one  of  his 
works  will  probably  apply  to  all : — "  Every  page  ex- 
hibits some  beautiful  expression,  some  pathetic  turn, 
some  original  thought,  or  some  striking  image."  AYe 
confess,  however,  that  his  hymns  want  more  simplicity, 
more  of  penitence  and  faith,  and  more  of  devotion,  to 
accord  with  our  taste.  We  respect  the  venerable  gentle- 
man, born  in  London  in  1791,  and  should  be  happy  to  see, 
before  he  is  called  from  earth,  a  few  hymns  from  his  pen 


190 


Al   I  'HOBS   AND   ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 


which  would  go  down  to  posterity  with  those  of  Watte 

and  Doddridge,  Cowper  and  Montgomery. 


JOHN  MILTON. 

Were  there  more  love  of  real  poetry  in  the  churches 

of  Christ  than  we  have  at  present,  we  should  hear  more 

of  Milton's  hymns  sung.     We  are  truly  glad  to  meet 

with  his 

"  They  pass  refreshed  the  thirsty  vale," 

and  hope  that  those  who  fashionably  praise  his  "Para- 
dise Lost"  will  study  and  sing  his  hymns,  which  we  are 
gratified  to  know  are  remembered  in  our  land,  though 
they  arc  forgotten  in  his  own.  But  be  it  remembered 
that  the  said  "  Paradise  Lost"  usually  accompanied  the 
Bible  into  the  log  houses  of  the  early  settlements  of  our 
country,  and  these  commonly  had,  too,  the  minor  poetry 
of  the  same  author. 

It  has  been  said  that,  from  the  seventeenth  year  of 
Milton's  age  to  the  thirty-fourth,  Milton's  chief  exercises 
were  in  poetry,  that  during  the  next  twenty  years  he 
Avrote  scarcely  any  thing  in  verse  except  a  few  sonnets, 
but  that  in  old  age  he  renewed  his  allegiance  to  the 
muse,  writing  his  great  works  "Paradise  Lost,"  " Para- 
dise Regained"  and  "Samson  Agonistes"  after  he  was  old 
and  blind,  and  that  he  intended  these  productions  to 
be  more  especially  his  bequests  to  the  literature  of 
England. 


JAMES    MONTI  iOMKRY.  197 

We  shall  gratify  our  readers  by  adding  a  short  para- 
graph as  to  "  his  manner  of  life,"  which  has  been  thus 
given  us: — u  lie  rises  early;  has  a  chapter  in  the  Hebrew 
Bible  read  to  him  ;  then  meditates  till  seven;  till  twelve 
lie  listens  to  reading,  in  which  he  employs  his  daughters; 
then  takes  exercise,  and  sometimes  swings  in  his  little 
garden.  After  a  frugal  dinner,  he  enjoys  some  musical 
recreation;  at  six  he  welcomes  friends;  takes  supper  at 
eight;  and  then,  having  smoked  a  pipe  and  drank  a 
glass  of  water,  he  retires  to  repose.  That  repose  is  some- 
times broken  by  poetic  musings,  and  he  rouses  up  his 
daughter  that  he  may  dictate  to  her  some  lines  before 
they  are  lost." 


JAMES  MONTGOMERY. 

Scarcely  any  man  who  has  but  recently  left  our  world 
has  done  more  for  the  psalmody  of  the  Church  than  this 
excellent  layman.  He  was  born  in  1771,  and  was  the 
son  of  an  excellent  Moravian  minister,  in  whose  commu- 
nion he  died,  though  for  some  years  he  held  fellowship 
with  the  Wesleyan  Methodists.  The  facts  of  his  long 
and  useful  life  are  too  well  known  to  make  it  necessary 
that  we  should  repeat  them  here.  More  than  half  a 
century  of  his  years  were  spent  in  Sheffield,  England, 
where  he  devoted  his  labors  to  the  Christian  press,  by 
which  he  made  a  mark  on  the  age  that  can  never  be 
erased.     No    man   ever   secured    greater    influence   on 


198  Al  FHO»fl    \M>   OBIQIM    OF    uv.MNS. 

society,  or  employed  it  more  entirely  for  the  honor  of 
Christ.     He  died  in  1854. 

By  a  singular  mistake  of  one  of  his  friends,  Mr.  Mont- 
gomery's death  was  reported  in  this  country  a  year  or 
two  before  it  really  took  place,  and  several  of  our 
periodicals  paid  cordial  tributes  to  his  memory.  When 
these  papers  fell  under  his  eye,  he  smiled  at  the  blunder, 
but  wept  tears  of  grateful  joy  that  brethren  at  so  great 
a  distance  should  pay  him  what  he  considered  tokens 
of  regard  beyond  all  he  had  deserved. 

We  think  we  shall  be  more  than  forgiven  if  we  add  a 
few  lines  descriptive  of  a  scene  which  took  place  at  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Conference  at  Sheffield  about  two 
years  before  Mr.  Montgomery's  death.  The  Eev.  Dr. 
Hannah,  the  president  of  the  Conference,  introduced  the 
venerable  poet  in  full  session  of  the  body,  and,  after 
alluding  to  the  services  which  he  had  rendered  to  the 
cause  of  religious  truth  and  moral  purity,  and  to  the  de- 
light which  his  poetry  had  ministered  to  so  many,  said, 
"  We  feel  under  great  obligation  to  yourself  and  to  the 
religious  body  to  which  you  belong,  and  beg  to  assure 
you  of  the  kindest  affection  of  the  Conference." 

The  aged  poet's  reply  was  beautifully  characteristic: — 
"  My  Christian  friends,  father,  and  brethren  in  the  Lord, 
I  dare  not  waste  one  moment  of  your  time,  and  I  have 
very  little  to  say;  but  that  little  will  be  of  the  greatest 
import.  It  is  this : — '  The  Lord  bless  you  and  keep 
you !  The  Lord  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  you,  and 
be  gracious  unto  you  !    The  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance 


JAMES    MONTGOMERY.  199 

upon  you,  and  give  you  peace!'  in  the  name  of  Jesus. 
Amen." 

A  series  of  short  but  interesting  speeches  followed  in 
the  same  spirit.  What  a  contrast  between  the  latter 
years  of  Montgomery  and  those  of  Byron  and  Moore  ! 

A  brief  narrative  connected  with  one  class  of  Mont- 
gomery's hymns  may  be  added  to  this  article  with  ad- 
vantage. It  has  long  been  customary  in  Sheffield,  the 
town  of  Montgomery's  residence,  on  every  Whit-Monday, 
for  the  different  Sunday-schools  to  meet  at  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning  at  their  respective  churches,  and  thence 
proceed,  under  the  escort  of  their  teachers,  to  some  public 
square,  there  to  exchange  fraternal  greetings,  and  engage 
in  a  united  service,  previously  arranged,  of  which  sing- 
ing the  hymns  previously  written  and  set  to  music 
for  the  occasion  forms  a  considerable  part.  Our  poet 
for  very  many  years  was  a  regular  contributor  to  these 
jubilant  occasions,  and  for  him  was  always  reserved  the 
first  hymn  on  the  list.  We  are  not  aware  that  any  col- 
lection of  them  has  been  made;  but  such  a  volume  would 
be  a  truly  noble  one. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  Sunday-school  jubilee,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1831,  there  must  have  been  collected  in 
one  place,  in  the  poet's  town,  not  less  than  twenty  thou- 
sand Sabbath-scholars ;  and  throughout  the  kingdom,  in 
like  proportion,  the  various  Sunday-schools  met  in  their 
own  towns  and  villages,  to  celebrate  that  joyful  day. 
What  a  chaplet  of  undying  green  did  those  congregated 
hosts  of  "little  children"  wreathe  for  the  brow  of  Mont- 


200 


A  l  THOES    AND   oitloiN    01    HYMNS. 


gomcry,  as  with  free  and  gladsome  voice  they  Ming  one 

of  his  jubilee  hymns! — 

"  The  flowers  of  fifty  summers  gone, 
The  leaves  that  then  were  green, 
Have  nothing  left  to  look  upon, 
To  tell  that  they  have  been." 

It  has  been  said  that  Mr.  Montgomery's  last  composi- 
tion was  a  hymn  for  a  Sunday-school  Union,  the  Last 
verse  of  which  is  both  characteristic  and  truly  sublime, — 

"  Learn  we  now  that  wondrous  strain, 

In  our  schools,  our  homes,  our  hearts, 
'Worthy  is  the  Lamb  once  slain!' 

In  all  languages,  all  parts  ; 
Then  the  countless,  chorus  swell, 

Round  his  throne,  with  glad  accord, 
Never  more  to  say  '  Farewell !' 

But,  •  Forever  with  the  Lord !'  " 

The  beautiful  hymn, — 

"  Spirit,  leave  thy  house  of  clay," 

was  written  by  Montgomery  during  his  political  perse- 
cution in  York  Castle.  It  originally  contained  seven 
eight-line  verses,  and  was  occasioned  by  the  death  of 
one  of  his  fellow-prisoners,  Joseph  Browne,  a  Quaker, 
who,  with  seven  others  of  the  same  religious  community, 
had  suffered  the  loss  of  all  his  worldly  goods  for  con- 
science' sake. 

As  one  object  of  our  volume  is  to  give  facts  as  to  the 
habits  of  our  hymn-writers,  it  will  give  no  offence  to  our 
readers  to  refer  to  one  or  two  mentioned  by  Mr.  Everett, 
one  of  the  intimate  friends  of  Montgomery.    Mr.  Everett 


JAMES    MONTGOMERY.  201 

one  day  remarked  to  his  companion  that  the  beautiful 
village  of  Matlock  would  be  a  fine  situation  for  the  per- 
manent residence  of  a  poet,  as  the  beauty  of  the  scenery, 
according  to  the  current  opinion,  would  induce  sublime 
thoughts.  He  partly  objected  to  the  notion,  observing 
that  he  should  have  to  lament  for  his  own  situation  if  it 
were  so.  "From  the  room  in  which  I  sit  to  write,"  said 
Montgomery,  "  and  where  some  of  my  happiest  pieces 
have  been  produced, — those,  I  mean,  which  are  most 
popular, — all  the  prospect  I  have  is  a  confined  yard, 
where  there  are  some  miserable  old  walls,  and  the  back 
of  houses,  which  present  to  the  eye  neither  beauty, 
variety,  nor  any  thing  else  calculated  to  inspire  a  single 
thought  except  concerning  the  rough  surface  of  the 
bricks,  the  corners  of  which  have  either  been  chopped 
off  by  violence  or  fretted  aw^ay  by  the  weather.  No : 
as  a  general  rule,  whatever  of  poetry  is  to  be  derived 
from  scenery  must  be  secured  before  we  sit  down  to 
compose :  the  impressions  must  be  made  already,  and 
the  mind  must  be  abstracted  from  surrounding  objects. 
It  will  not  do  to  be  expatiating  abroad  in  observations 
when  we  should  be  at  home  in  concentration  of  thought." 
AYe  may  add  here  that  the  beautiful  hymn, — 

"  Servant  of  God,  well  done  !" 

which  in  the  original  extended  to  forty-eight  lines,  was 
written  by  Montgomery  on  the  occasion  of  the  decease 
of  the  Eev.  Thomas  Taylor,  a  venerable  and  beloved 
Christian  minister,  an  adherent  of  the  Messrs.  "Wesley. 


•_'ll_,  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMN'S. 

He  labored  under  many  trials  and  discouragements,  but 
ultimately  met  with  great  success  at  Glasgow.  He  bad 
to  perform  all  the  singing  at  public  worship  himself,  but 
first  spent  nearly  the  whole  of  what  he  had  in  hiring  a 
man,  at  eight  cents  a  service,  to  be  his  precentor,  after 
the  Kirk  custom,  and  to  "lead  the  psalms."  Necessity 
compelled  him  to  dismiss  both  his  precentor  and  the 
Scotch  psalms,  and  to  use  the  Methodist  melodies,  "  the 
people,"  he  says,  "liking  them  right  well."  For  fifty- 
five  years  he  labored  with  the  "Wesleyans,  though  he  was 
offered  a  very  handsome  salary  to  settle  with  a  new 
church  in  Glasgow.  He  was  nearly  eighty  years  old 
when  he  died,  honored  and  beloved  as  a  noble  veteran 
by  all  who  knew  him.  In  a  sermon  a  short  time  before 
his  decease  he  raised  his  venerable  form  in  the  pulpit 
and  said,  with  great  emphasis,  "  I  should  like  to  die  like 
an  old  soldier,  sword  in  hand."  He  was  soon  after 
found  dead  in  his  chamber. 

The  beautiful  hymn  by  this  writer, — 

"Go  to  the  grave  in  all  thy  glorious  prime," 

was  written  to  commemorate  the  decease  of  the  Eev. 
John  Owen,  one  of  the  first  secretaries  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  a  gentleman  distinguished 
for  learning  and  holy  eloquence.  The  hymn  originally 
consisted  of  six  verses. 


THOMAS    ."WooRE.  203 


THOMAS  MOORE. 


We  never  think  of  the  author  of  the  composition, — 

"Come,  ye  disconsolate,  where'er  ye  languish," 

or  half  a  dozen  other  hymns  from  the  pen  of  Moore 
which  are  to  be  found  in  our  books,  without  thinking 
also  of  the  exclamation,  "  Is  Saul  also  among  the  pro- 
phets?" Would  to  God  Thomas  Moore  had  been  a 
Christian  !  for  no  man  of  his  day  possessed  in  a  higher 
degree  the  qualities  which  constitute  the  lyric  poet, — 
qualities  which  captivate  the  ear  as  well  as  the  mind  by 
the  harmony  of  sound  married  with  immortal  verse.  As 
a  writer  of  songs,  no  man  of  his  day  equalled  Mr.  Moore. 
Alas  that  thousands  are  now  mourning  over  the  delu- 
sions thrown  by  his  early  productions  over  the  ways  of 
sin, — delusions  which  have  fascinated  multitudes  to  their 
eternal  ruin  !  In  the  review  of  Moore  and  his  influence 
over  the  public  mind,  we  have  again  and  again  ex- 
claimed, "  Oh,  the  solemn  responsibilities  of  authorship  I" 
Moore  was  of  humble  origin  :  he  was  born  in  Dublin, 
Ireland,  in  the  year  1790,  was  educated  at  Trinity 
College,  in  that  city,  and  then  went  to  London  to  study 
law )  but,  mingling  with  the  great  and  fascinating  there, 
he  gave  himself  to  poetry  and  singing,  married  an  actress, 
devoted  his  days  and  nights  to  vanity,  and  lived  a  man 
of  the  world.  He  died  in  1852.  His  memoirs  and  let- 
ters were  edited  by  Lord  John  Eussell. 


204  Al  THOfifl    AM)    OKKJ1.N    OF    HYMNS. 

REV.  THOMAS  MORELL. 

From  the  pen  of  this  able  and  amiable  minister  of  Jesus 
Christ  we  have  several  valuable  hymns,  including, — 
"Go,  and  the  Saviour's  grace  proclaim  !" 

Their  writer  was  an  English  Congregational  minister, 
dying,  before  old  age  overtook  him,  but  a  few  years  ago. 
For  many  years  he  discharged  the  duties  of  a  successful 
pastorate,  after  which  he  became  the  President  of  Cow- 
ard College,  once  under  the  control  of  the  excellent  Dr. 
Doddridge,  but  which  has  since  merged  in  the  new  col- 
lege of  St.  John's  Wood,  London. 


REV.  WM.  A.  MUHLENBERG,  D.D. 

The   well-known   hymn   generally  beginning  in  our 

books, — 

"I  would  not  live  ahvay, — I  ask  not  to  stay,*' 

has  a  history  worth  telling.  In  the  year  1824  appeared, 
in  the  "Episcopal  Recorder"  of  Philadelphia,  an  ad- 
mirable composition  of  forty-eight  lines,  of  which  the 
hymn  now  so  commonly  used  forms  a  part.  It  was 
written  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  without  the  n^ost 
remote  idea  of  any  portion  of  it  being  used  in  the  devo- 
tions of  public  worship.  A  committee  of  the  General 
Convention  of  the  Episcopal  Church  was  appointed  to 
prepare  a  new  hymn-book;  and  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop 


REV.    JOHN   NEEDIIAM.  205 

Ondcrdonk,  the  rector  of  St.  Ann's  Church,  Brooklyn, 
offered  the  verses,  selected  from  the  whole  article,  as  a 
part  of  the  book.  The  said  hymn  was  at  first  rejected 
by  the  committee,  of  which  the  unknown  author  was  a 
member;  and,  when  a  satirical  criticism  was  offered 
upon  it,  he  earnestly  voted  against  its  adoption.  Dr. 
Onderdonk  importunately  urged  its  admission;  and  after 
a  while  the  secret  oozed  out  that  Dr.  Muhlenberg,  one 
of  their  own  number,  was  its  author.  Many  years  af- 
terward, when  he  was  the  editor  of  the  "Evangelical 
Catholic/'  Dr.  M.  explained  the  whole  matter. 


REV.  JOHN  NEEDHAM. 

Of  this  gentleman,  the  author  of  the  hymn, — 

"Holy  and  reverend  is  the  name," 

and  several  others,  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  but  very 
little  information.  He  was  for  some  years  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  church  at  Hitchin,  Hertfordshire,  England, 
whence  he  removed  to  become  co-pastor  with  the  Eev. 
John  Beddome,  of  Bristol,  about  the  year  1747.  Five 
years  afterward  he  transferred  his  labors  to  another 
church  in  that  city,  where  he  died  about  1768,  in  which 
year  the  volume  of  his  hymns  was  printed. 


18 


206  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    OF    BTMNS. 

REV.  JAMES  NEWTON. 

This  author  of  a  well-known  hymn  on  baptism  was 
for  twenty  years  during  the  last  century  classical  pro- 
fessor in  the  Baptist  College  at  Bristol,  England,  and  a 
colleague  in  the  ministry  with  the  Rev.  John  Tommas 
of  the  same  city.  The  duties  of  both  these  stations  he 
filled  with  high  reputation  to  himself  and  distinguished 
advantage  to  others.  He  died  in  1790,  in  the  fifty- 
seventh  year  of  his  age.  Mr.  Newton  left  in  manuscript 
a  volume  of  original  hymns,  which  the  writer  of  this 
work  deposited  in  the  library  of  the  institution  now 
called  the  Regent's  Park  College,  in  London. 


REV.  JOHN  NEWTON. 

Of  this  excellent  preacher  and  experimental  hymn- 
writer,  whose  history  is  so  well  known,  our  readers  will 
not  expect  us  to  speak  in  detail.  All  of  them  know 
that,  though  the  son  of  a  pious  mother,  he  ran  in  his 
early  life  "to  great  excess  of  riot;"  went  to  sea,  engaged 
in  the  slave-trade,  and,  but  that  God  placed  restraints 
upon  him,  he  must  again  and  again  have  died.  "Pre- 
served in  Christ  Jesus,"  he  was  "called"  by  the  grace 
of  God,  "counted  faithful,  and  put  into  the  ministry," 
first  at  Warwick,  whence  he  removed  to  Olney,  where 
he   became    associated    with    the    amiable    Cowper    in 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTON.  207 

writing  and  publishing  the  volume  of  "  Olney  Hymns," 
and  ultimately  to  the  rectory  of  St.  Mary  Woolnoth,  and 
St.  Mary  Wool-Church  Haw,  in  the  English  metropolis, 
where  we  will,  as  somewhat  aided  by  a  writer  in  the 
•■  North  British  Review"  briefly  sketch  his  sayings  and 
doings. 

Sixty  years  ago  he  might  have  been  seen  in  the  pulpit 
of  St.  Mary  Woolnoth,  within  a  stone's  throw  of  the 
mansion-house  of  the  lord  mayor,  surrounded  by  a 
congregation  both  numerous  and  wealthy.  His  sermon 
is  to  a  great  degree  trite  and  commonplace,  and  you 
begin  to  wonder  why  he  attracts  so  much  attention, 
when  he  most  unexpectedly  utters  some  bright  fancy  or 
expresses  some  earnest  feeling,  while  a  somewhat  stiff 
animation  overruns  his  seamy  countenance,  and  you 
wonder  that  a  man  of  seventy-three  can  show  you  such 
kind  and  beaming  eyes.  The  ardent  affection  with 
which  he  is  earnestly  looked  at  by  his  hearers  proves  to 
you  that  the  preacher  himself  is  invested  with  interest 
as  well  as  his  sermon. 

If  you  will  go  to  tea  at  his  house,  No.  8  in  Coleman 
Street  Buildings,  some  two  or  three  hundred  yards  from 
his  church,  on  next  Friday  evening,  in  a  dusky  parlor 
with  some  twenty  of  his  choicest  friends,  the  mystery 
will  be,  at  least  in  part,  explained.  He  has  doffed  the 
cassock,  and  in  a  sailor's  blue  jacket,  on  a  three-legged 
stool,  the  preacher  sits  at  ease  at  his  own  little  table. 
The  frugal  meal  is  finished,  the  ever-present  pipe  is 
smoked,  and  the   Bible   is   placed   where    the    tea-tray 


208  AUTHORS    AND    0RI01N    OF    HYMNS. 

stood  some  half  an  hour  ago.  The  guests  draw  nearer 
to  their  venerable  friend,  and  the  feast  of  wisdom  and 
the  flow  of  soul  begin.  lie  inquires  if  any  one  had  a 
question  to  ask;  for  these  re-unions  are  for  business 
well  as  for  friendship.  Two  or  three  are  come  fully 
prepared  for  this  call.  A  retired  old  lady  aflka  "  how- 
far  a  Christian  may  lawfully  conform  to  the  world." 
And  the  old  sailor  says  many  good  things  to  guide  her 
scrupulous  conscience, — unless,  indeed,  she  made  the 
inquiry  for  the  sake  of  the  young  gentleman  with  the 
blue  coat  and  frilled  wristbands  across  the  table.  "  When 
a  Christian  goes  into  the  world  because  he  sees  it  is  his 
call,  yet  while  he  feels  it  also  his  cross,  it  will  not  hurt 
him."  Then,  guiding  his  discourse  toward  some  of  his 
city  friends,  he  says,  "A  Christian  in  the  world  is  like 
a  man  transacting  business  in  the  rain :  he  will  not 
suddenly  leave  his  client  because  it  rains,  but  the  mo- 
ment the  business  is  done  he  is  gone, — as  it  is  said 
in  the  Acts,  '  Being  let  go,  they  went  to  their  own  com- 
pany.' "  This  brings  up  Hannah  More  and  her  book  on 
"  The  Manners  of  the  Great ;"  and  the  minister  expresses 
his  high  opinion  of  her.  Some  of  the  party  do  not 
know  who  she  is ;  and  he  tells  them  that  she  is  a  gifted 
lady  who  used  to  be  the  intimate  friend  of  Johnson, 
Horace  Walpole,  and  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  the  idol  of 
the  "West-End  grandees,  and  a  writer  of  plays  for  Drnry- 
Lane  Theatre.  He  repeats  his  admiration  and  his  hope 
for  the  accomplished  authoress. 

Having  answered  the  inquiries  which  have  been  made, 


REV.    JOHN    NEWTOX.  209 

Newton  opens  his  Bible,  and,  after  singing  one  of  the 
"  Olney  Hymns"  he  reads  the  eighteenth  chapter  of  the 
Acts.  "  You  see  that  Apollos  met  with  two  candid  peo- 
ple in  the  Church  :  they  neither  ran  away  because  he 
was  legal,  nor  were  carried  away  because  he  was  elo- 
quent." And,  after  a  short  but  fervent  prayer, — catholic, 
comprehensive,  and  experimental,  and  turning  into  devo- 
tion the  substance  of  their  colloquy, — it  is  as  late  as  nine 
o'clock,  and  the  little  party  begins  to  separate.  In  leave- 
taking,  the  host  has  a  kind  word  for  every  one,  and  has 
a  great  deal  to  say  to  one  who  is  but  a  visitor.  "  I  was 
a  wild  beast  on  the  coast  of  Africa;  but  the  Lord  caught 
me  and  tamed  me,  and  now  you  come  to  see  me  as 
people  go  to  look  at  the  lions  in  the  Tower."  And 
never  was  transformation  more  complete.  Except  the 
blue  jacket  at  the  fireside,  and  a  few  sea-faring  habits, — 
except  the  lion's  hide,  nothing  survived  of  the  African 
lion.  The  Puritans  would  have  said  that  the  lion  was 
slain  and  that  honey  was  found  in  its  carcass. 

All  about  Newton's  writings  is  truly  delightful  and 
perfectly  natural.  His  hymns  are  sweet ;  but  his  "  Let- 
ters" make  him  eminent.  Our  theology  supplies  nothing 
like  them.  They  are  all  "  cardiphonia, — the  Utterance 
of  the  heart."  Except  his  own  friend  Cowper,  who  was 
not  a  professed  divine,  no  letters  of  that  stiff  century 
read  so  free,  and  none  have  so  well  preserved  their 
writer's  heart. 

Newton  was  born  in  1725,  and  died  in  1807. 

We  have  already  referred  to  the  "  Olney  Hymns  ;"  and 

18* 


210  AUTHORS    AND    OR  I  (.I.N    01    HYMH& 

it  is  a  fact  worthy  of  remark  that  these  compositions 
were  a  few  years  ago  translated  into  the  Sherbro  lan- 
guage by  a  colored  man  named  Caulker,  and  are  now 
sung  in  the  very  regions  whose  inhabitants  Newton 
once  assisted  to  carry  men  and  women  from  liberty  to 
slavery. 


HON.  AND  REV.  BAPTIST  NOEL. 

This  gentleman,  who  has  contributed  to  our  hymn- 
books  several  beautiful  compositions,  including, — 

"If  human  kindness  meets  return," 

is  a  branch  of  a  noble  family  in  England  and  a  brother 
of  the  Earl  of  Gainsborough.  Mr.  Noel  was  born  at 
Leithmont,  near  Leith,  in  the  year  1799,  and,  after  at- 
taining a  high  reputation  in  various  departments  of 
learning,  was  ordained  in  the  Church  of  England,  and 
was  appointed  by  her  majesty  Queen  Yictoria  one  of 
her  chaplains.  A  few  years  ago,  changing  his  opinion 
as  to  the  propriety  of  a  union  between  Church  and  State, 
and  embracing  the  views  of  truth  generally  held  by  the 
Baptists,  Mr.  Noel  left  the  Episcopal  Church  and  united 
with  that  body,  among  whom  he  labors  with  much  suc- 
cess, near  his  old  church  edifice,  in  the  English  metro- 
polis, enjoying  the  full  confidence  and  love  of  his  church 
and  congregation. 


JOHN    F.    OBERLIN.  211 


ANDREWS  NORTON. 

This  gentleman,  the  author  of  several  beautiful  hymns, 
including, — 

"  My  God,  I  thank  thee  !  may  no  thought," 

was  an  eminent  scholar  and  professor  connected  with 
the  Unitarians.  He  was  born  at  Hingham,  Mass.,  in 
1786,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  College  when  but 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  never  settled  as  a  pastor, 
but  occupied  several  important  professorships,  including 
that  of  Sacred  Literature  at  Harvard.  He  died  in  1853, 
aged  sixty-seven  years. 


JOHN  F.  OBERLIN. 

We  are  sorry  for  the  man  who  is  ignorant  of  the  beau- 
tiful hymn, — 

"  0  Lord,  thy  heavenly  grace  impart," 

or  of  its  lovely  author,  the  Eev.  John  F.  Oberlin,  the 
eminently  distinguished  pastor  of  Waldbach,  in  the  Ban 
de  la  Eoche.  He  was  born  at  Strasbourg  in  1740,  of 
truly  remarkable  parents,  who  were  soon  rewarded 
by  the  extraordinary  indications  of  piety  and  talents 
given  in  his  earliest  years.  Especially  was  his  mother 
distinguished  for  her  Christian  excellencies.  She  was 
in  the  habit  of  assembling  her  children  together  every 
evening,  and  of  reading  aloud  from  some  instructive  book, 


'l\'l  AUTHORS    AND    ORKJIN    OF    HYMNS. 

while  they  sat  around  the  table  copying  pictures  which 
their  father  had  drawn  for  them;  and  scarcely  a  night 
passed  but,  when  on  the  point  of  separating,  there  was 
a  genera]  request  for  "one  beautiful  hymn  from  dear 
mamma/' — with  which  she  always  comj)lied.  The  hymn 
was  followed  by  a  prayer;  and  thus  their  infant  steps 
were  conducted  to  Him  who  has  said,  "Sutler  little 
children  to  come  unto  me." 

In  very  early  life  John  Frederick  became  a  Christian. 
lie  says,  "During  my  infancy  and  youth  God  often 
vouchsafed  to  touch  my  heart  and  to  draw  me  to  him- 
self. He  bore  with  me  in  my  repeated  backslidings, 
with  a  kindness  and  indulgence  hardly  to  be  expressed." 
He  entered  the  ministry,  and  in  due  time  settled  in  one 
of  the  most  difficult  parishes  in  the  world,  where  he 
accomplished  what  may  be  almost  regarded  as  miracles  of 
usefulness.  Gladly  would  we  dwell  on  scenes  which  can 
scarcely  be  thought  of  without  rapture.  His  self-denial, 
his  labors,  his  piety,  and  his  success  were  alike  admirable 
and  animating. 

This  extraordinary  man,  who  died  in  1826,  in  the 
eighty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  does  not  appear  to  have 
been  remarkable  for  poetical  talents.  The  hymn  to 
a  translation  of  which  we  have  referred  is  the  one  best 
known, — which  it  well  deserves  to  be.  For  it  we  are  in- 
debted to  the  Diary  of  the  excellent  Dr.  Steinkopff,  who 
heard  it  sung  under  the  direction  of  its  author  on  a  very 
interesting  occasion. 


REV.    SAMSON    OCCTM.  213 


REV.  SAMSON  OCCUM. 

Our  readers  have  all  heard  of  Samson  Occum,  a  re- 
markable Indian  preacher  in  this  country,  who  died  in 
1 7 '. •  ^ .  lie  was  converted  about  1740,  under  the  labors  of 
Whitefield,  Gilbert  Tennent,  and  their  companions.  In 
1766  he  visited  England,  in  company  with  the  Eev.  Mr. 
Whitaker,  to  advocate  the  cause  of  Dr.  "Wheeler's  Indian 
school,  which,  was  afterward  merged  in  Dartmouth 
College.  He  there  preached  from  three  to  four  hundred 
sermons;  and,  as  no  North  American  Indian  had  ever 
been  seen  in  an  English  pulpit  before,  his  ministry  was 
popular,  and  his  pecuniary  success  so  great,  that  he  re- 
turned to  this  country  with  more  than  forty-five  thou- 
sand dollars. 

Occum  was  one  of  the  many  writers  who  produced 
one  good  hymn  :  it  begins, — 

"Awaked  by  Sinai's  awful  sound,"  etc. 

It  originally  contained  seven  verses;  a  portion  of  the 
whole  is  to  be  found  in  many  of  our  books,  and  is  still 
eminently  useful.  In  1809  it  became  generally  known 
in  England,  and  in  1814  was  translated  into  "Welsh  by 
the  late  Eev.  Thomas  Thomas,  of  Peckham,  London. 
In  the  Welsh  revivals  of  religion  it  is  still  very  commonly 
sung;  and  no  doubt  can  be  entertained  of  its  having  led 
many  hundred  sinners  to  the  cross  of  Christ. 


!14  AUTHORS   AND    OKK.IN    01    RTMN8. 


REV.  THOMAS  OLIVERS. 

Almost  every  one  knows  the  beautiful  hymn, — 

"  The  God  of  Abraham  praise,"  etc., 

which  was  some  years  ago  pronounced,  in  "Blackwood?* 
Magazine"  "one  of  the  noblest  odes  in  the  English 
language."  We  suspect,  however,  that  the  eulogist  did 
not  know  that  its  author  was  originally  a  shoemaker 
and  one  of  the  earliest  Methodist  preachers.  This  ad- 
mirable hymn,  the  whole  of  which  has  been  seldom 
printed,  was  written  to  a  celebrated  air  sung  by  Leoni 
in  the  Jews'  Synagogue.  This  hymn  and  tune  reached 
the  thirtieth  edition  as  early  as  1779.  He  also  wrote 
the  hymn  beginning, — 

"  Lo,  he  comes,  ■with  clouds  descending,"  etc., 

and  prepared  the  music  to  which  it  was  long  sung,  and 
which  also  reached  its  twentieth  edition  in  the  year  just 
named.  The  Eev.  John  Wesley  printed  both  hymns  and 
tune  in  his  "Sacred  Harmony."  Olivers  was  born  in 
Wales  in  1725,  and  died  suddenly  in  London  in  1799. 

Mr.  Olivers  was  distinguished  in  early  life  for  great 
immorality  of  conduct.  His  attention  to  religion  was 
arrested  by  the  preaching  of  George  Whitefield,  and  his 
subsequent  life  was  marked  by  a  very  energetic  and 
successful  ministry.  The  Rev.  John  Fletcher  suid 
of  him,  "This  author  was,  twenty-five  years  ago,  a 
mechanic,  and,  like  Peter,  a  fisherman,  and  Saul,  or  Paul, 


KRISHNA    PAL.  215 

a  tent-maker,  has  bad  the  honor  of  being  promoted  to 
the  dignity  of  a  preacher  of  the  gospel;  and  his  talents 
as  i  writer,  a  logician,  a  poet,  and  a  composer  of  sacred 
music  are  known  to  those  who  have  looked  into  his 
publications."  The  Conference,  also,  after  his  death, 
said,  "In  his  younger  days  he  was  a  zealous,  able,  and 
useful  travelling  preacher.  His  talents  were  very  con- 
siderable." 

John  Wesley,  speaking  of  his  compeers,  thus  refers  to 
Olivers : — 

"I've  Thomas  Olivers  the  cobbler, 
(No  stall  in  England  holds  a  nobler,) 
A  wight  of  talent  universal, 
Whereof  I'll  give  a  brief  rehearsal : 
He  with  one  brandish  of  his  quill 
Will  knock  down  Toplady  and  Hill." 

The  celebrated  Mrs.  Carter  heard  Olivers' s  hymn, — 

"Lo,  he  comes,  with  clouds  descending," 

sung  at  St.  Paul's  Cathedral  in  London,  as  an  advent- 
anthem,  in  1753,  and  gives  it  at  full  length  in  her  Letters. 


KRISHNA  PAL. 


On  one  of  the  closing  days  of  the  last  century,  was 
baptized  in  the  river  Ganges,  before  the  gate  of  the 
missionary  premises  at  Serampore,  Krishna  Pal,  the 
first  Hindoo  who  trampled   on   the  caste   for  Christ's 


216  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

Bake  and  joined  the  standard  of  the  cross.  This  man — 
then  at  the  prime  of  life,  being  thirty-five  years  of  age — 
became  an  eminent  Christian,  engaged  in  the  ministry, 
■which  he  pursued  for  many  years,  baptized  many  hun- 
dreds of  converted  idolaters,  and  then  died  triumphant 
in  the  Lord  Jesus.  Joyfully  did  he  bear  testimony  that 
the  service  of  Christ  "  was  the  work  of  love,"  and  that 
in  it  ahe  got  nothing  but  joy  and  comfort."  He  wrote 
two  or  three  hymns,  one  of  which  continues  to  be  sung 
in  India  in  the  Bengalee  language,  in  which  it  was 
composed;  and  a  part  of  it,  translated  into  English,  is 
printed  in  most  of  our  books  : — 

"  0  thou,  my  soul,  forget  no  more." 

We  think  no  one  can  read  this  hymn,  remembering 
its  author  as  a  converted  idolater  and  that  he  died 
carrying  out  its  almost  prediction,  without  having  his 
interest  in  the  composition  greatly  increased  : — 

''  Ah,  no  !  till  life  itself  depart, 
His  name  shall  cheer  and  -warm  my  heart ; 
And,  lisping  this,  from  earth  I'll  rise, 
And  join  the  chorus  of  the  skies/' 


MRS.  PALMER. 


The  hymn, — 

"  To  thee,  thou  high  and  lofty  One," 
was  written  by  Mrs.  Palmer,  and  sung  at  the  dedication 
of  the  Methodist  church  in  Mulberry  Street,  Xew  York. 


REV.    A.    T.    PEABODY,    I>1>.  217 

REV.  RAY  PALMER,  D.D. 

Though  we  believe  Dr.  Palmer,  an  eminent  Congre- 
gational minister  of  this  country,  has  written  many 
hymns,  he  has  published  very  few.  We  have  one,  how- 
ever, which  can  never  be  worn  out,  beginning, — 

'•  My  faith  looks  up  to  Thee." 

This  hymn,  we  are  told,  had  in  connection  with  its  first 
publication  an  interesting  incident.  Dr.  Lowell  Mason, 
a  musical  composer,  who  was  a  personal  friend  of  Dr.  P., 
one  day  asked  him  to  furnish  him  with  a  hymn  which 
he  might  set  to  music.  The  excellent  doctor  told  him 
he  thought  he  had  in  his  vest-pocket  a  worn-out,  coarse 
piece  of  paper,  on  which,  some  weeks  before,  he  had 
written  a  few  lines  which  might  suit  his  purpose,  and, 
after  some  little  trouble,  found  the  almost  illegible  manu- 
script, the  words  and  music  of  which  were  shortly  after 
published,  and  which  now  minister  to  the  edification  of 
very  many  devout  worshippers. 


REV.  A.  P.  PEABODY,  D.D. 

The  well-known  funeral  hymn, — 

"  Behold  the  western  evening  light," 

and    several    others,  were   written    by  Dr.   Peabody,  a 
learned  Unitarian  preacher,  and  professor  in  the  Cam- 

19 


218  Ai  rHOBB    AM)   ORIGIN    OF    HV 

bridge  University.  He  has  also  published  a  great  va- 
riety of  sermons  and  other  works,  and  produces  one 
or  more  articles  for  almost  every  number  of  "  The  North 
American  Review."  Dr.  P.  was  born  at  Beverly,  Mass., 
in  1811,  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  182G,  and  was 
ordained  at  Portsmouth,  X.H.,  in  1833. 


REV.  SAMUEL  PEARCE. 

Perhaps  the  later  editions  of  "  Ilippon's  Selection  of 
Hymns"  may  be  the  latest  volume  of  hymns  which  con- 
tains two  sweet  compositions, — 

"In  the  floods  of  tribulation," 
and 

"The  fabric  of  nature  is  fair." 
The  last  was  written  when  its  author  was  confined  by 
sickness  to  his  chamber,  where  he  died  of  consumption,  a 
few  weeks  after  writing  it,  in  1799,  aged  thirty-seven 
years.  It  contains  fifteen  verses,  every  one  of  them 
breathing  the  feelings  of  his  "  seraphic"  soul.  We  make 
no  small  sacrifice  in  omitting  the  whole  hymn.  The 
reader  will  thank  us  for  the  closing  lines  : — 

"  There  myriads  and  myriads  shall  meet, 
In  our  Saviour's  high  praises  to  join ; 
While  transported  we  fall  at  his  feet 
And  extol  his  redemption  divine. 

"Enough,  then:   my  heart  shall  no  more 
Of  its  present  bereavements  complain  ; 
Since  ere  long  I  to  heaven  shall  soar 
And  ceaseless  enjoyments  obtain." 


REV.    EDWARD    PERRONET.  219 

Often  have  we  locked  on  the  beautiful  autograph  of 
this  hymn  with  the  pleasing  thought  that  the  band  which 
so  beautifully  wrote  it,  though  now  dust,  shall,  never- 
theless, eternally  be  employed  in  its  Saviour's  service. 


REV.  EDWARD  PERRONET. 

For  many  years  past  most  of  our  hymn-books  have 
attributed  the  hymn, — 

"All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name  !*' 

to  the  pen  of  Duncan,  who,  however,  has  no  other  claim 
to  it  than  what  may  arise  from  some  of  the  alterations 
which  have  been  made  in  it.  It  first  appeared,  without 
a  signature,  in  the  "  Gospel  Magazine"  issued,  in  London 
in  1780,  and  in  1785  was  published  by  Perronet  himself 
in  a  volume  of  "  Occasional  Verses,  Moral  and  Sacred" 
of  which,  though  issued  anonymously,  a  copy  yet  in  ex- 
istence was  given  by  Perronet  to  a  friend  as  his  own,  cer- 
tified by  his  autograph.  In  1787  Dr.  Rippon  published 
the  first  edition  of  his  selection  of  hymns,  in  which  it 
also  appeared  anonymously.  It  is  only  comparatively 
of  late  that  it  has  been  claimed  for  Duncan. 

Edward  Perronet  was  the  son  of  an  excellent  clergy- 
man of  the  Established  Church  of  England,  and  the 
brother  of  Charles  Perronet,  who,  as  well  as  himself, 
was  for  a  short  time  associated  in  the  ministry  with  the 
excellent  Messrs.  Wesley.  Edward,  however,  becoming 
Calvinistic  in  his  theological  views,  was  employed  by 


220  AUTHORS    AND   ORIGIN    01    BTMN8 

the  well-known  Counters  of  Huntingdon,  and  labored  at 

Canterbury,  Norwich,  and  other  places,  with  consider- 
able success.  Though  the  son  of  one  of  its  clergymen, 
he  is  said  to  have  been  very  decidedly  opposed  to  the 
Church  of  England  and  to  have  sometimes  employed 
his  pen  in  satirizing  it.  He  was  the  author  of  an  anony- 
mous poem  called  "  The  Mitre"  which  is  generally  .sup- 
posed to  have  been  one  of  the  keenest  satires  on  the 
national  Establishment  ever  written.  It  was  printed; 
but  the  publication  of  it  was  suppressed,  by  the  influence 
and  request,  it  is  said,  of  John  Wesley.  His  opposition 
to  the  Episcopal  Church  so  grieved  Lady  Huntingdon 
that  he  left  her  connection  and  preached  to  a  small  con- 
gregation of  Dissenters  till  his  death. 

About  the  year  1808  the  hymn  "  All  hail,"  etc.,  was 
printed  at  Canterbury,  on  a  card,  for  the  use  of  a  Sun- 
day-school, to  which  is  appended  the  following  notice 
of  the  author: — "The  Eev.  Edward  Perronet  died  at 
Canterbury,  January  2,  1792.  His  dying  words  were, 
4  Glory  to  God  in  the  height  of  his  divinity!  Glory 
to  God  in  the  depth  of  his  humanity!  Glory  to  God  in 
his  all-sufficiency !  and  into  his  hands  I  commend  my 
spirit.'  " 

The  well-known  tune  which  has  been  for  more  than 
half  a  century  Identified  with  the  hymn  of  which  we 
are  writing  was  composed  by  a  .Mr.  Shrubsole,  an  inti- 
mate personal  friend  of  Perronet,  who  was  organist  at 
Spa-Fields  Chapel,  London,  from  1784  till  his  death  in 
1806. 


KKV.     EDWARD    l'KRKnNET.  221 

We  are  tempted,  before  dismissing  this  article,  so  far 
to  depart  from  the  plan  of  our  work  as  to  transcribe 
from  Perronet's  volume  of  1785  the  original  and  unal- 
tered favorite  hymn,  leaving  the  reader  to  form  his  own 
opinion   as    to    the   character  of   the    alterations    since 

made  : — 

"All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name  ! 
Let  angels  prostrate  fall ; 
Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
To  crown  him  Lord  of  all ! 

"Let  high-born  seraphs  tune  the  lyre, 
And,  as  they  tune  it,  fall 
Before  his  face  who  tunes  their  choir, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all.! 

"Crown  him,  ye  morning  stars  of  light, 
Who  fixed  this  floating  ball ; 
Now  hail  the  Strength  of  Israel's  might, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all! 

"Crown  him,  ye  martyrs  of  your  God, 
Who  from  his  altar  call ; 
Extol  the  stem  of  Jesse's  rod, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all! 

"Ye  seed  of  Israel's  chosen  race, 
Ye  ransomed  of  the  fall, 
Hail  him  who  saves  you  by  his  grace, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all ! 

"Hail  him,  ye  heirs  of  David's  line, 

Whom  David  Lord  did  call, 

The  God  incarnate,  man  divine  ; 

And  crown  him  Lord  of  all ! 

"Sinners,  whose  love  can  ne'er  forget 
The  wormwood  and  the  gall, 
Go,  spread  your  trophies  at  his  feet, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all ! 
19* 


222  AUTHORS    AND    OBXOIM    OF    HYMN-. 

"  Let  every  tribe  and  every  tongue 
That  bouml  creation's  call 

shout,  in  universal  <"iig. 
The  croaynko  Lobs  of  all." 

An  anecdote  connected  with  this  hymn  cannot  be 
unacceptable.  The  late  William  Dawson,  a  very  plain 
man,  but  a  highly  popular  local  preacher  among  the 
Wesley  an  Methodists  of  England,  was  boh*  since, 

preaching  in  London  on  the  offices  of  Christ.  Alter 
presenting  him  as  the  great  Teacher  and  Priest,  who 
made  himself  an  offering  for  sin,  the  preacher  intro- 
duced him  as  the  King  of  saints.  Having  shown  that 
he  was  king  in  his  own  right,  he  proceeded  to  the  coro- 
nation. Borrowing  his  ideas  from  scenes  familiar  to  his 
audience,  he  marshalled  the  immense  procession  moving 
toward  the  grand  temple  to  place  the  insignia  of  royalty 
upon  the  King  of  the  universe. 

So  vividly  did  the  preacher  describe  the  scene,  that 
his  hearers  almost  thought  they  were  gazing  upon  that 
long  line  of  patriarchs  and  kings,  prophets  and  apoe 
martyrs  and  confessors,  of  every  age  and  clime,  until  at 
length  the  great  temple  was  tilled,  and  the  solemn  and 
imposing  ceremony  of  coronation  was  about  to  take 
place.  The  audience  by  this  time  were  wrought  op  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  excitement ;  and,  while  momentarily 
expecting  to  hear  the  anthem  peal  out  from  the  vast 
assemblage,  the  preacher  commenced  singing, — 

Ml  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name ! 
I.f'  angels  prostrate  faFl,*' 


i:i:v.    BDWABD   I'KRRONET.  228 

The  effect  was  electrical.  The  audience  started  to  their 
feet  and  Bang  the  hymn  with  such  spirit  and  feeling  as 
perhaps  it  was  never  sung  before  or  since.  Eight  loyally 
did  that  great  congregation  pay  homage  to  the  Saviour 
as  their  Sovereign  that  Sabbath  morning. 

We  add  here  another  anecdote ;  and,  though  it  does 
not  directly  bear  on  Perronet's  hymn,  it  does  on  his 
character,  as  on  that  of  the  eminent  preacher  to  whom 
it  likewise  relates. 

Mr.  Wesley  had  long  been  desirous  of  hearing  Edward 
Perronet  preach;  and  Mr.  Perronet,  aware  of  it,  was  as 
resolutely  determined  he  should  not,  and  therefore  stu- 
died to  avoid  every  occasion  that  would  lead  to  it.  Mr. 
Wesley  was  preaching  in  London  one  evening,  and,  see- 
ing Mr.  Perronet  in  the  chapel,  published,  without  asking 
his  consent,  that  he  would  preach  there  the  next  morn- 
ing at  five  o'clock.  Mr.  Perronet  had  too  much  resj^cct 
for  the  congregation  to  disturb  their  peace  by  a  public 
remonstrance,  and  too  much  regard  for  Mr.  Wesley  en- 
tirely to  resist  his  bidding.  The  night  passed  over.  Mr. 
Perronet  ascended  the  pulpit  under  the  impression  that 
Mr.  Wesley  would  be  secreted  in  some  corner  of  the 
chapel,  if  he  did  not  show  himself  publicly,  and,  after 
singing  and  prayer,  informed  the  congregation  that  he 
appeared  before  them  contrary  to  his  own  wish  j  that 
he  had  never  been  once  asked,  much  less  his  consent 
gained,  to  preach ;  that  he  had  done  violence  to  his 
feelings  to  show  his  respect  for  Mr.  Wesley;  and,  now 
that  he  had  been  compelled  to  occupy  the  place  in  which 


224  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

be  stood,  weak  and  inadequate  as  be  was  for  the  work 
assigned  him,  he  would  pledge  himself  to  furnish  them 
with  the  best  sermon  that  ever  had  been  delivered. 
Opening  the  Bible,  he  proceeded  to  read  our  LordV 
mon  on  the  Mount,  which  he  concluded  without  a  single 
word  of  his  own  by  way  of  note  or  comment,  lie  cl< 
the  service  with  singing  and  prayer.  .No  imitator  has 
been  able  to  produce  equal  effect. 

Another  fact  dues  bear  on  the  hymn.  In  1795  the  late 
Eev.  Dr.  Bogue  preached  one  of  the  first  sermons  before 
the  London  Missionary  Society.  One  of  Eowland  Hill's 
biographers  tells  us,  "  Mr.  Bogue,  in  the  course  of  his 
sermon,  said,  '  We  are  called  this  evening  to  the  funeral 
of  Bigotry;  and  I  hope  it  will  be  buried  so  deep  as  never 
to  rise  again.'  The  whole  vast  body  of  people  mani- 
fested their  concurrence,  and  could  scarcely  refrain  from 
one  general  shout  of  joy.  Such  a  scene  perhaps  was 
never  beheld  in  our  world,  and  afforded  a  glorious  ear- 
nest of  that  nobler  assembly  where  we  shall  meet  all 
the  redeemed,  and  before  the  throne  of  the  Lamb  shall 
sing,  as  in  the  last  hymn  of  the  service, — 

'  Crown  him,  crown  him,  crown  him  Lord  of  all !'  " 

Mr.  Jones  adds,  "  There  is  reason  to  fear  that  there 
has  been  a  resurrection  of  this  enemy  of  the  Church; 
but  till  the  close  of  life  Mr.  Hill  often  repeated  the  re- 
mark of  a  favorite  author : — '  Mr.  Bigotry  fell  down 
and  broke  bis  leg.    "Would  that  he  had  broken  his  neck!'  " 


ALEXANDER   TOrE.  225 


ALEXANDER  POPE. 

This  Bingular  and  erratic  genius,  who  was  born  in 
London  in  1688  and  died  in  1744,  was  the  author  of  a 
well-known  ode,  formerly  exceedingly  popular  with  our 
village  choirs,  and  still  retained  in  some  of  our  books: — 

"  Vital  spark  of  heavenly  flame." 

It  was  written  at  the  request  of  Steele,  to  whom  Pope 
says,  "  You  have  it,  as  Cowley  calls  it,  just  warm  from 
the  brain.  It  came  to  me  the  first  moment  I  waked 
this  morning :  yet  you'll  see  it  was  not  absolutely  in- 
spiration, but  that  I  had  in  my  head,  not  only  the  verses 
of  Hadrian,  but  the  fine  fragment  of  Sappho."  Warton 
says  he  had  in  his  head  also  the  verses  of  Thomas 
Flatman,  an  obscure  rhymer  of  Charles  the  Second's 
day:— 

"  When  on  my  sick-bed  I  languish, 
Full  of  sorrow,  full  of  anguish, 
Fainting,  gasping,  trembling,  crying, 
Panting,  groaning,  spiritless,  dying, 
Methinks  I  hear  some  gentle  spirit  say, 
'Be  not  fearful,  come  away,'  " — 

which  certainly  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  some  of 
the  lines  of  Pope. 

The  excellent  John  Wesley,  in  giving  an  account  of 
a  visit  he  made  to  Bolton,  in  Lancashire,  in  the  summer 
of  1787,  tells  us  that,  in  the  evening  of  a  Sabbath  on 
which  he  had  addressed  eight  hundred  Sabbath-school 


226  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    01    HYMNS. 

children,  be  desired  forty  <>r  fifty  of  them  to  sing  V 

ode, — 

••  Viral  sj.ark  of  heavenly  flame;" 

and  he  adds,  u  Although  some  of  them  were  silent,  not 
being  able  to  sing  for  tears,  yet  the  harmony  was  such 
a-  I  believe  could  not  be  equalled  in  the  King's  Chapel/' 


REV.  THOMAS  RAFFLES,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

Perhaps  no  man  in  England  who  has  never  been  in 
the  United  States  has  been  so  frequently  seen  by 
Americans  in  the  pulpit  as  Dr.  Raffles.  He  is  a  native 
of  London,  born  about  1788,  and  was  first-cousin  to  the 
late  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  Governor  of  Ceylon.  Con- 
verted in  early  life,  he  became  a  student  for  the  ministry 
at  Homerton  College,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Hammersmith,  near  London, 
in  1809.  We  have  already  spoken  of  Dr.  Collyer;  and  a 
short  passage  contained  in  the  charge  given  by  him  to 
Dr.  Raffles  at  his  ordination,  when  Dr.  C.  was  himself 
but  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  will  show  the  intimacy 
between  these  two  eminent  men  when  yet  in  their 
youth  : — "The  circumstances  under  which  I  am  ad.i: 
ing  you,  my  brother  and  friend,  are  not  without  interest. 
AVe  have  long  known  and  loved  each  other;  we  have 
shared  our  pleasures  and  anxieties  mutually  and  for 
some  years;  we  have  formed  as  clear  conceptions  and 
obtained  as  perfect  a  knowledge  of  each  other's  character 


KEY.    TilnMAS    RAFFLES,    D.D.,    LL.D.  227 

as  it  is  possible  to  possess  in  the  present  state.  In  what- 
ever points  this  charge  may  be  deficient,  I  am  sure  it 
will  not  be  in  affection." 

In  August,  1811,  an  event  occurred  at  Liverpool  which 
spread  consternation  through  what  has  been  called  the 
religions  world.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Spencer, — who,  long 
before  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty  years,  had  at- 
tained popularity  as  a  preacher  to  which  none  at  so  early 
an  age  had  ever  risen,  excepting  perhaps  the  late  Rev. 
William  Jay,  of  Bath, — while  a  new  large  church  edifice 
was  being  built  for  him  in  Liverpool,  was  drowned  while 
bathing  in  the  river  3Iersey;  and  the  pulpit  he  would 
have  occupied  a  mysterious  Providence  thus  reserved 
for  Dr.  Raffles;  and,  as  the  pastor  of  this  church,  now 
worshipping  in  a  still  larger  edifice,  he  has  ever  since 
most  efficiently  labored. 

Dr.  Raffles  out  of  the  pulpit  is  one  of  the  most  affable, 
unaffected,  and  delightful  of  companions :  good  nature 
sparkles  in  his  clear,  large  blue  eye,  plays  about  his 
mouth,  and  is  imprinted  in  every  line  of  his  countenance. 
But  in  the  pulpit,  solemnity  banishes  every  other  feel- 
ing, and  he  is  evidently  impressed  with  a  consciousness 
of  his  momentous  mission  as  the  servant  of  God.  "When 
he  enters  the  sacred  desk,  he  evidently  leaves  behind 
him  all  that  is  earthly,  and  stands  only  as  the  minister 
of  mercy  between  a  holy  God  and  sinful  man. 

No  man  can  hear  Dr.  Raffles  even  read  a  hymn  with- 
out seeing  and  feeling  him  to  be  a  poet ;  and  the  few 
hymns  of  his  which  we  have  in  our  books  will  most  cer- 


228  AUTHOES  AND   ORIGIN   OF   1IYMN>. 

lainly  confirm  the  impression.  As,  for  instance,  the 
one, — 

"Blest  hour,  when  mortal  man  retires," 

attracts  us  sweetly  from  earth  and  brings  us  into  de- 
lightful communion  with  Deity.  In  using  his  hymns, 
there  is  nothing  to  lessen  our  confidence  in  the  piety  and 
eminent  usefulness  of  their  author,  but  every  thing  to 
increase  the  Christian  love  and  sympathy  we  must  de- 
sire to  cherish. 

For  a  long  series  of  years  Dr.  Raffles  has  prepared 
and  circulated  among  his  people,  on  every  1st  of  Janu- 
ary, a  pastoral  hymn  adapted  to  that  special  season, 
which,  regularly  as  it  is  published,  appears  in  the 
columns  of  the  "New  York  Observer."  Cordially  do  we 
unite  in  saying,  with  the  editors  of  that  paper,  in  giving 
the  hymn  "No  Night  in  Heaven"  (Eev.  xxii.  5,)  "  For  the 
Early  Prayer-Meeting,  New  Year's  morning,  1858,"  "  We 
trust  the  venerable  and  accomplished  pastor  may  bo 
spared  to  furnish  many  another  spiritual  song  for  his 
hearers  and  our  readers." 


REV.  ANDREW  REED,  D.D. 

Several  popular  and  excellent  hymns  are  to  be  found 
in  our  books  from  the  pen  of  this  now  venerable  Con- 
gregational clergyman,  who  for  a  very  long  series  of 
years  has  been  eminently  successful  in  London.  In 
1834-35,  Dr.  Reed,  in  company  with  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 


REV.    ROBERT    ROBINSON.  2J1) 

Matheson,  visited  this  country  as  a  deputation  to  its 
churches  frouq  the  Congregational  Union  of  England  ami 
Wales:  they  were  received  with  much  cordiality,  and 
their  ministerial  labors  were  highly  acceptable.  Dr. 
I  Joed  has  published  a  number  of  useful  works,  including 
"  The  Hymn-Book,"  consisting  of  original  and  selected 
compositions,  used  by  many  of  the  churches  of  his  order 
in  Great  Britain. 


REV.  ROBERT  ROBINSON. 

Robert  Robinson,  the  author  of  two  hymns  in  our 
collections, — 

"Come,  thou  Fount  of  every  blessing," 
and 

"  Mighty  God,  while  angels  bless  thee," 

was  in  his  day  a  very  extraordinary  man.  While  a 
very  poor  lad,  and  an  apprentice  to  a  barber  in  Norwich, 
England,  he  was  brought  under  deep  religious  feeling 
by  the  preaching  of  the  distinguished  George  White- 
field,  and  soon  after  began  to  preach  at  the  Tabernacle 
in  Whitefield's  connection  in  that  city.  At  twenty-five 
he  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Baptist  Church  at 
Cambridge,  where — and  indeed  wherever  he  was  known — 
he  attained  great  popularity.  He  was  eccentric  both  in 
his  religious  views  and  his  social  habits.  A  few  words 
in  reference  to  each  of  the  hymns  Ave  have  spoken  of 
may  not  be  without  their  use. 

20 


230  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

The  former  one, — 

"Come,  thou  Fount  of  every  blessing," 

was  written  in  early  life,  and  was  first  published,  in  a  some- 
what different  form  from  what  we  hare  it  at  pre- 
in  the  collections  of  Mr.  Whitefield  and  the  Eev.  Dr.  C 
Evans.  From  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  parties  referred 
to  in  the  narrative,  we  received,  some  twenty  years  since, 
the  affecting  statement  we  now  make.  In  the  latter  part 
of  his  life,  when  Mr.  Eobinson  seemed  to  have  lost  much 
of  his  devotional  feeling,  and  when  he  indulged  in  habits 
of  levity,  he  was  travelling  in  a  stage-coach  with  a  lady, 
who  soon  perceived  that  he  was  well  acquainted  with 
religion.  She  had  just  before  been  reading  the  hymn  of 
which  we  are  writing,  and  asked  his  opinion  of  it, — as 
she  might  properly  do,  since  neither  of  them  knew  who 
the  other  was.  He  waived  the  subject,  and  turned  her 
attention  to  some  other  topic;  but,  after  a  short  period, 
she  contrived  to  return  to  it,  and  described  the  benefits 
she  had  often  derived  from  the  hymn,  and  her  strong 
admiration  of  its  sentiments.  She  observed  that  the 
gentleman  was  strongly  agitated,  but,  as  he  was  dressed 
in  colored  clothes,  did  not  suspect  the  cause.  This  garb 
Eobinson  was  compelled  to  assume  in  travelling,  Bfl 
wherever  he  was  known  he  was  pressed  to  stay  to 
preach.  At  length,  entirely  overcome  by  the  power  of 
his  feelings,  he  burst  into  tears,  and  said,  "  Madam,  I  am 
the  poor,  unhappy  man  who  composed  that  hymn  many 
years  ago ;  and  I  would  give  a  thousand  worlds,  if  I  had 
them,  to  enjoy  the  feelings  I  then  had."     An  anecdote 


231 

.similar  to  this  was  often  told  by  the  late  Eev.  Thomas 
Morgan,  of  Birmingham,  of  almost  the  same  language 
being  used  by  Mr.  Robinson  to  one  of  the  most  eminent 
ministers  of  his  own  denomination. 

The  other  hymn  to  which  we  have  referred, — 

"Mighty  God,  while  angels  bless  thee," 

the  second  line  of  which  Avas  written  by  Mr.  Robinson 

11  May  an  infant  lisp  thy  name," 

was  composed  for  the  use  of  the  late  excellent  Benjamin 
Williams,  Esq.,  for  many  years  senior  deacon  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  at  Reading,  England, — a  man  of 
great  influence  and  usefulness.  When  a  little  boy,  Ben- 
jamin sat  on  Robinson's  knee  while  he  wrote  this  hymn, 
who,  after  having  read  it  to  him,  placed  it  in  his  hand. 
Well  do  we  remember  the  deep  feeling  with  which  the 
venerable  man  described  to  us  the  scene  as  we  sat 
with  him  at  his  own  fireside. 


REV.  JOHN  RYLAND,  D.D. 

Yery  few  Baptists,  probably,  can  be  found  who  have 
not  heard  the  name  of  Ryland,  borne  by  two  eminent 
ministers  of  that  body  in  England.  The  younger  one, 
Dr.  John  Ryland,  is  the  hymn-writer  of  whom  we  now 
speak.  He  was  born  in  1753,  and  even  in  childhood 
began  to  write  hymns,  some  of  which  were  printed  in 


A.UTHOKS    AM)    ORTcilN    OF    HYMNS. 

the  old  magazines  of  tliat  day,  with  the  signature  of  J.  B  , 
Junr.  Before  he  had  attained  the  Age  of  five  yean 
was  Me  to  read  the  Twenty-Third  Psalm  in  Hebrew,  and 
at  nine  years  could  read  the  entire  New  Testament  in 
Greek.  At  fourteen  he  was  baptized  by  his  father,  and 
at  eighteen  preached  his  rir>t  sermon.  After  assisting 
his  father  for  several  years,  he  became  hia  r  in 

1786.  In  1792,  Brown  University,  in  Rhode  Island,  con- 
ferred on  him  the  degree  of  D.D.;  and  in  the  year  follow- 
ing he  became  the  President  of  the  Baptist  College  in 
Bristol, — a  position  he  occupied,  in  connection  with  the 
pastorate  of  a  large  church,  till  his  decease,  in  1825.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  English  Baptist  Missionary 
Society,  and  after  the  death  of  the  Bev.  Andrew  Fuller, 
in  1815,  was  elected  one  of  its  secretaries, — an  office  he 
filled  for  two  or  three  years.  He  was  regarded  by  the 
excellent  Dr.  John  Pye  Smith  as  the  most  eminent 
theologian  of  his  day,  as  he  certainly  was  among  the 
most  distinguished  Hebrew  scholars.  Robert  Hall 
preached  his  funeral  sermon,  and  became  his  successor 
as  the  pastor  of  Broadmead  Church  in  Bristol. 
Most  of  our  hymn-books  contain  the  hymn, — 

••  In  all  my  Lord's  appointed  ways  :'' 

but  probably  it  is  not  generally  known  that  it  is  really 
but  the  smaller  portion  of  a  hymn  written  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  last  century  by  Dr.  Ryland,  then  of  North- 
ampton,— the  whole  of  which  has  never,  we  believe,  been 
printed,  except  in  Dr.  Rippon's  Selection  of  Hymns  for 


■BY.    JOHN    R  VI, AND,    D.D.  233 

Baptist  churches,  formerly  extensively  used  in  this 
country.  Its  origin  was  rather  singular.  Several  stage- 
coaches daily  passed  through  the  town;  and,  as  the  good 
pastor  lived  at  no  great  distance  from  the  inn  where 
they  exchanged  horses,  he  generally  contrived  to  meet 
every  evangelical  minister  who  travelled  through  the 
town,  and  not  unfrequently  almost  compelled  them  to 
stay  a  day  on  the  road,  that  they  might  give  his  people 
a  sermon  in  the  evening.  On  one  occasion  he  had  thus 
treated  a  brother  in  the  ministry,  who  most  reluctantly 
yielded  and  appeared  in  the  pulpit  with  the  text, 
"  Hinder  me  not,"  (Gen.  xxiv.  56.)  Dr.  Eyland,  as  is  still 
customary  in  England,  sat  in  the  desk  below  the  pulpit 
to  read  the  hymns;  and,  as  his  brother  proceeded,  every 
"head  of  discourse"  was  "turned  into  poetry,"  which  at 
the  end  of  the  sermon  was  duly  read  and  a  portion  of  it 
sung.     It  begins,  in  the  original  hymn, — 

'•When  Abraham's  servant,  to  procure 
A  wife  for  Isaac,  went." 

The  whole  consisted  of  nine  verses,  of  which  the  last 
four  only  are  now  used. 

Many  of  our  collections,  especially  those  intended  for 
young  people,  contain  a  hymn  beginning, — 

"  Lord,  teach  a  little  child  to  pray  ; 
Thy  grace  betimes  impart;" 

which  had  an  interesting  origin.  The  late  Eev.  and  ex- 
cellent  Andrew  Fuller,  of  Kettering,  England,   lost   a 

daughter  in  17*0,  who  died  very  yonng,  but  not  without 

I'M- 


234  AUTHORS    AND    OBJOIS    01    HYMNS. 

first  giving  good  evidence  of  possessing  experimental 
piety.  While  she  lay  sick, — which  she  did  for  some 
months, — Dr.  Ivy  land,  of  Bristol,  at  the  request  of  ber 
father,  wrote  this  little  hymn  for  her  special  use.  Speak- 
ing of  her  and  the  hymn,  Mr.  Fuller  says,  "  She  had  some 
verses  composed  for  her  by  our  dear  friend  Mr.  Ryland. 
These,  when  we  rode  out  for  the  air,  she  often  requested 
me  to  say  over  to  her.  She  several  times  requested  me 
to  pray  with  her.  I  asked  her  again  if  she  tried  to  pray 
herself:  I  found  by  her  answer  that  she  did,  and  was 
accustomed  to  pray  over  the  hymn  composed  for  her." 

After  the  death  of  little  Sarah,  Mr.  Fuller  printed  a 
large  number  of  copies  of  the  hymn  on  small  slips  of 
paper,  and  distributed  them  among  the  shop-keepers  of 
the  town,  requesting  them  to  wrap  up  the  thread  used 
by  very  many  children  in  that  neighborhood  for  making 
the  lace  then  only  wrought  on  pillows;  so  that  when  a 
little  girl  purchased  a  pennyworth  or  two  of  thread  she 
obtained  also  a  hymn.  By  this  means  thousands  were 
circulated  over  the  land,  and  soon  got  into  several 
books,  by  which  we  trust  its  usefulness  will  long  be  per- 
petuated. 


HON.    AND    REV.    WALTER    SHIRLEY.  235 

HON.  AND  REV.  WALTER  SHIRLEY. 

Some  of  our  collections  contain  hymns  beginning, — 
"  From  heaven  the  loud,  the  angelic  song  began," 
"Hark!  in  the  wilderness  a  cry," 
"  Flow  fast  my  tears,  thy  cause  is  great," 
11  Sweet  as  the  shepherd's  tuneful  reed," 
"  Source  of  light  and  power  divine," 

and  a  few  others  which  were  written  in  the  last  century 
by  the  Honorable  and  Eeverend  Walter  Shirley,  the 
friend  of  Whitefield  and  Wesley  and  the  personal  friend 
but  doctrinal  opponent  of  the  well-known  Eev.  John 
Fletcher:  he  was  also  a  relative  and  valued  friend  of  the 
excellent  Countess  of  Huntingdon,  the  pulpits  of  whose 
chapels  he  frequently  supplied.  He  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful as  an  Episcopal  minister  at  Loughrea,  in  Ireland, 
to  the  inhabitants  of  which  place  he  dedicated  a  volume 
of  excellent  sermons.  Mr.  Shirley  composed  some  very 
animated  lines  on  the  departure  in  1772,  two  years  after 
the  death  of  Whitefield,  of  several  missionaries  from 
Lady  Huntingdon's  college  to  this  country.  He  died  in 
his  sixty-first  year,  in  1786,  of  a  very  painful  disease;  but 
such  was  the  extent  of  his  holy  zeal  that,  though  for 
some  time  before  his  death  he  was  unable  to  lie  down  in 
bed,  he  sat  in  his  chair  and  frequently  preached  to  great 
numbers,  who  crowded  the  drawing-rooms,  the  lobbies,  and 
the  staircase  as  far  as  his  voice  could  be  heard;  and  the 
testimony  of  God  to  his  ministry  was  truly  remarkable. 


AUTHORS    AND    ORItilN    OF    HYMNS. 


LYDIA  HUNTLEY  SIGOURNEY. 


Where  is  the  modern  American  hymn-book  which 
does  not  rejoice  in  some  of  the  compositions  of  Mrs. 
Sigourney?  and  whose  hymns  are  more  beautiful,  more 
evangelical,  or  more  generally  acceptable  F  She  was  a 
native  of  JSTorwich,  Connecticut,  and  at  three  years  of 
age  might  be  seen  reading  her  Bible.  Her  early  genius 
was  happily  fostered,  and  at  the  age  of  eight  years  she 
knew  how  to  express  her  thoughts  in  writing  with  ease 
and  beauty. 

In  1819  Miss  Huntley  was  married  to  Charles  Sigourney, 
Esq.,  of  Hartford,  from  whom  a  year  or  two  since  she 
was  separated  by  the  hand  of  death;  but  she  is  still  blest 
with  an  amiable  daughter.  Her  life  has  been  distinguished 
by  almost  incessant  activity  in  the  duties  of  female  edu- 
cation, and  in  writing  an  ample  variety  of  volumes  and 
essays  both  in  prose  and  verse,  all  of  which  are  beautiful 
and  useful;  nor  will  she,  as  we  believe,  regret  on  a  dying 
pillow  the  production  of  any  one  of  them.  Many  years 
ago  we  published  in  England  a  selection  of  her  poetry, 
collected  by  ourselves,  under  the  title  of  "Lays  from  the 
West;1'  and  most  of  her  productions  since  that  time  have 
been  republished  in  that  land.  It  has  been  well  said 
that  "  her  position  as  first  in  purity  and  talent  among 
the  lady  writers  of  America  has  never  been  disputed  by 
a  person  worthy  the  name  of  critic." 


ANNE    STEELE.  237 

REV.  S.  F.  SMITH,  D.D. 

This  excellent  Baptist  minister  of  New  England 
is  well  known  as  a  gentleman  of  literary  taste,  and 
the  author  of  many  highly  acceptable  hymns,  in- 
eluding, — 

11  Softly  fades  the  twilight  ray," 
and 

"Yes,  my  native  land,  I  love  thee." 

He  was  also  one  of  the  editors  of  the  hymn-book  used 
by  his  own  denomination,  called  "  The  Psalmist."  He 
needs  no  further  praise,  nor  need  his  character  be  more 
fully  described. 


ANNE  STEELE. 


This  lady,  usually  in  England  called  Mrs.  Steele, 
having  become  advanced  in  years,  unmarried,  was  the 
writer  of  many  of  our  favorite  hymns.  She  was  the 
eldest  daughter  of  the  Eev.  William  Steele,  pastor  of 
the  Baptist  church  at  Broughton,  in  Hampshire,  Eng- 
land, and  was  born  in  1716.  Yery  little  is  known  of  her, 
even  though  Dr.  Caleb  Evans,  of  Bristol,  published  a 
memoir  of  one  whom  he  highly  esteemed,  living,  and 
whose  three  volumes  of  poetry,  under  the  name  of  "  Theo- 
dosia,"  he  greatly  assisted  to  publish.  At  fourteen  she 
was  baptized  and  united  with  the  church  under  the  pas- 
torate of  her  father,  sustaining  that  connection  till  her 


238  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN   OF   hymns. 

death  in  1778,  in  the  sixty-second  year  of  her  age.  Eves 
in  early  life  .she  was  exceedingly  fond  of  poetry,  but 
was  always  unwilling  that  what  she  wrote  should  be 
made  public;  and,  though  she  at  length  yielded  to  the 
importunities  of  her  friends,  she  always  withheld  her 
name.  In  early  life,  she  consented  to  give  her  hand  to 
a  worthy  young  man  named  Elscourt,  and  the  day  for 
the  wedding  was  fixed ;  but  a  few  hours  before  the  in- 
tended event  he  went  into  the  river  to  bathe,  incau- 
tiously passed  beyond  his  depth,  and  was  drowned. 
Never  again  did  her  heart  warm  with  human  love. 

The  remaining  part  of  Miss  Steele's  life  was  spent 
in  retirement,  manifesting,  as  Dr.  Evans  says,  "unaf- 
fected humility,  warm  benevolence,  sincere  friendship, 
and  genuine  devotion."  Her  capacious  mind  was  clothed 
with  a  weak  and  languid  body;  and  the  death  of  her 
father,  to  whom  she  was  most  ardently  attached,  gave 
such  a  shock  to  her  frame  that,  though  she  survived  him 
for  some  years,  she  never  recovered  from  it.  Though 
from  the  period  of  her  father's  decease  she  was  confined 
to  her  chamber,  she  looked  with  sweet  resignation  to 
the  time  of  her  removal  from  earth ;  and,  when  it  hap- 
pily arrived,  she  was,  amidst  great  pain,  full  of  peace 
and  joy.  She  took  the  most  affectionate  leave  of  her 
friends  who  stood  weeping  around  her,  uttered  the  tri- 
umphant words,  "I  know  that  my  Eedeemer  liveth," 
closed  her  eyes,  and  fell  asleep  in  Jesus.  A  very  appro- 
priate inscription,  written  by  one  of  her  nieces,  was 
inscribed  on  her  tombstone  : — 


REV.    SAiMUEL    STENNETT,    D.D.  239 

"Silent  the  lyre,  and  dumb  the  tuneful  tongue, 

That  sung  on  earth  her  great  Redeemer's  praise ; 
But  now  in  heaven  she  joins  the  angelic  song 
In  more  exalted,  more  harmonious  lays." 

Mrs.  Steele's  hymns,  as  the  reader  well  knows,  are 
highly  esteemed  in  all  our  churches:  they  are  the 
breathings  of  a  living  soul,  and  have  alike  drawn  forth 
the  sympathizing  tear,  the  rapturous  song,  and  the  pre- 
vailing prayer.  Long  will  she  continue  to  sing  on  earth 
and  to  educate  saints  for  heaven. 


REV.  SAMUEL  STENNETT,  D.D. 

The  family  of  the  Stennetts  furnished  successive 
ministers  to  the  Baptist  denomination  for  more  than  a 
century,  when  the  name  became  entirely  extinct.  The 
most  eminent  of  the  family  was  Samuel,  the  son  of  Jo- 
seph Stennett,  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Exeter, 
England.  Samuel  was  born  in  1727  and  died  in  1795. 
His  father  moved  to  Little  Wild  Street,  London,  in  1737, 
and  in  early  life  his  son  became  first  his  assistant  and 
afterward  his  successor.  He  was  an  eminent  scholar, 
and  was  honored  with  a  degree  of  D.D.  by  the  King's 
College  at  Aberdeen,  and  was  a  personal  friend  of  his 
sovereign,  George  III.,  for  whom  it  was  said  he  read 
books,  criticisms  on  which  the  king  used  to  retail  as 
his  own.  His  literary  style  had  all  the  elegant  sim- 
plicity of  Addison  combined  with  more  strength  than 


240  AUTHORS    AM)    UKK.1N     01    HYMNS. 

that  eminent  writer.     So  particular  was  Dr.  Stennett  in 
his  extempore  delivery,  that  ho  often  made  long  pa 
in  the  pulpit  to  select  the  beat  word  lie  could  find  to  ex- 
press his  ideas.     lie  was  ottered  high  preferment  in  the 

Church  of  England,  but  his  answer  was,  "  I  dwell  among 
mine  own  people,"  and  he  resolutely  declined.  His 
hymns  are  extensively  known  and  are  highly  valued. 

As  Dr.  Stennett  approached  old  age,  the  death  of 
his  wife  greatly  afflicted  him,  but  was  sanctified  so  as 
to  raise  him  above  "this  present  evil  world/'  and  he 
gave  full  evidence  that  he  had  no  desire  to  remain  longer 
on  earth.  "When  almost  confined  to  his  bed,  he  prayed 
earnestly  in  his  family  "  that  God  would  give  him  an 
easy  passage  out  of  life;"  "  and  God  granted  him  that 
which  he  requested."  Some  vinegar  combined  with 
other  ingredients  being  given  him  as  a  gargle  for  his 
throat,  he  said,  with  great  emotion,  "  '  And  in  his  thirst 
they  gave  him  vinegar  to  drink.'  Oh,  when  I  reflect 
upon  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  I  am  ready  to  ask,  What 
have  I  been  thinking  of  all  my  life  ?  What  he  did  and 
suffered  are  now  my  only  support."  Eeferring  to  the 
tenets  of  Unitarianism,  he  said,  "  What  should  I  do  now 
if  I  had  only  such  opinions  to  support  me?" 


REV.    AMOS   SUTTON,    D.D.  241 

REV.  AMOS  SUTTON,  D.D. 

The  well-known  hymn, — 

"Hail,  sweetest,  dearest  tie  that  binds!" 

was  written  by  the  truly  excellent  and  learned  Dr.  Sut- 
ton, who  died  after  many  years  of  successful  missionary 
labor  at  Orissa,  India.  He  was  of  very  humble  origin, 
and  in  early  life  was  distinguished  for  ignorance  and 
profanity.  Changed  by  the  grace  of  God,  he  attached 
himself  to  a  General  Baptist  Church  in  London,  and, 
after  due  preparation,  engaged  in  missionary  labors. 
He  more  than  once  visited  this  country,  and  deeply  in- 
terested the  Free- Will  Baptists  in  the  cause  to  which  he 
had  devoted  his  life.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  an 
American  lady.  However  beautiful  the  hymn  to  which 
we  have  alluded,  its  full  excellence  could  only  be  realized 
by  those  who  heard  it  read  and  sung  by  its  author,  who 
not  unfrequently  closed  the  public  meetings  he  attended 
by  leading  in  its  use.  At  one  of  these  meetings,  at  the 
close  of  an  ordination  in  which  we  were  engaged  with 
him,  in  1834,  in  the  English  metropolis,  we  heard  it 
for  the  first  time;  nor  do  we  expect,  if  by  sovereign 
mercy  we  reach  the  heavenly  world,  to  lose  the  still 
cherished  feelings  which  it  then  excited. 


242  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 


STERNHOLD  AND  HOPKINS. 

These  gentlemen,  with  H.  Wisdome  and  others,  who 
assisted  them  in  what  is  called  "  The  Version  of  the 
Psalms,"  claim  a  niche  in  our  volume,  were  it  only,  as 
old  Thomas  Fuller  says,  that  they  were  "  men  whose 
piety  was  better  than  their  poetry,  and  they  had  drank 
more  of  Jordan  than  of  Helicon."  Of  the  design  of 
their  work  he  says,  "  It  was  to  make  them  more  portable 
in  people's  memories,  verses  being  twice  as  light  as  the 
selfsame  bulk  in  prose;"  and  he  adds  that  although 
a  many  have  since  refined  these  translations,  yet  their 
labors  therein  were  never  generally  received  in  the 
Church,  principally  because  un-book-learned  people  have 
conned  by  heart  many  psalms  of  the  one  translation, 
which  would  be  wholly  disinherited  of  their  patrimony  if 
a  new  edition  were  set  forth." 

Sternhold  was  indeed  a  singular  man.  He  was  groom 
of  the  bedchamber  to  Henry  VIII.  and  to  Edward  VI., 
and  impropriator  of  the  buildings  and  lands  of  the  priory 
of  Bodmin,  as  well  as  versifier  of  the  book  of  Psalms. 
Bishops  Beveridge  and  Horsley  strenuously  defended 
the  faithfulness  of  the  old  version  as  a  just,  accurate, 
and  dignified  rendering  of  the  Psalms;  while  Collier 
calls  this  "  old  version"  a  popular  innovation  during  the 
first  years  of  the  Reformation. 

It  is  said  of  the  celebrated  Scaliger  that  he  was  so 


STERNHOLD    AND    HOPKINS.  243 

delighted  with  the  famous  stanza  of  Sternhold  and  Hop- 
kins in  the  eighteenth  Psalm, — 

"On  cherub  and  on  cherubim 
Full  royally  he  rode, 
And  on  the  wings  of  mighty  winds 
Came  flying  all  abroad," 

that  he  used  to  profess  that  he  had  rather  be  the  author 
of  it  than  to  have  governed  the  kingdom  of  Aragon. 
The  well-known  psalm, — 

"All  people  that  on  earth  do  dwell," 

was  the  old  favorite  version  of  the  one-hundredth  Psalm, 
and  was  the  first  English  composition  to  which  the  tune 
of  the  "  Old  Hundredth"  was  applied  by  our  English  fore- 
fathers. It  has,  therefore,  great  historical  value  and  a 
special  adaptation  to  one  of  the  noblest  tunes  in  the 
"  service  of  song." 

"  It  is  amusing,"  as  the  Eev.  Henry  Fish  has  remarked, 
"  to  look  back  and  contemplate  the  strong  feeling  which 
existed  at  one  period  among  a  certain  class  of  clergy- 
men, and  some  of  those  enlightened  ones,  against  any 
innovations  upon  Sternhold  and  Hopkins."  Even  the 
celebrated  Eomaine,  on  one  occasion  at  least,  argued  as 
if  the  words  of  Sternhold  and  Hopkins,  which  were  sung 
in  the  churches,  were  the  words  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


244  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN   OF    HYMNS. 


REV.  JOSEPH  SWAINE. 

"  Come,  ye  souls  by  sin  afflicted," 

and  several  other  sweetly  melting  hymns  by  this  writer 
to  be  found  in  our  collections,  were  derived  from  a 
small  volume  which  he  himself  published.  Mr.  Swaine 
was  of  the  humblest  origin,  and  was  bora  at  Birming- 
ham, England,  in  1761.  In  early  life  he  devoted  him- 
self to  sinful  gayety ;  but,  becoming  partially  enlightened 
as  to  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  and  while  struggling  for 
clearer  views  of  Christianity,  he  began  to  write  hymns. 
He  was  one  day  overheard  by  a  neighbor  singing  one 
of  them,  who,  hearing  it  was  his  own,  invited  him  to 
go  to  a  house  of  worship  with  him;  and  he  said  to  his 
friend,  "  I  am  sure  what  the  preacher  said  is  true;  for  he 
has  described  my  feelings  better  than  I  can  myself."  In 
1791  he  began  to  preach  at  Walworth,  London,  and 
organized  a  Baptist  church,  where  he  labored  with  great 
success  for  five  years,  the  house  within  that  period  being 
three  times  enlarged.  But  at  the  age  of  thirty-five  he 
was  removed  by  death,  leaving  behind  him  a  reputation 
still  fragrant  and  precious. 

Mr.  Swaine  always  regarded  the  seraphic  Samuel 
Pearce,  of  Birmingham,  as  his  spiritual  father;  and  to  him 
he  inscribed  a  long  poem,  in  which  he  gave  a  highly-in- 
terestimr  narrative  of  his  conversion. 


WILLIAM    B.    TAPPAN.  245 


WILLIAM  B.  TAPPAN. 

Though  this  gentleman,  who  suddenly  died  in  New 

England  in  1849,  was  not  possessed  of  the  very  highest 

order  of  talent, — nor  did  he  ever  do  justice  to  himself,  for 

want  of  care  and  pains, — he  wrote  several  hymns  for 

which  he  will  long  be  remembered.     If  his  heart  had 

not   been  a  well-spring  of  poetry,  he  could  not   have 

written, — 

"'Tis  midnight, — and  on  Olive's  brow 
The  star  is  dimmed  that  lately  shone,"' 


or, 


Holy  be  this  as  was  the  place 
To  him  of  Padan-aram  known ;" 


nor  can  Christians  cease  to  love  him  when,  assembled  to 
pray  for  the  coming  of  Christ's  kingdom,  they  raise  the 
triumphant  anthem, — 

"Wake,  isles  of  the  South!  your  redemption  is  near," 

or  when,  in  the  midst  of  storms  and  trials,  they  seize  the 
lay  of  comfort  and  hope, — 

"There  is  an  hour  of  hallowed  peace," 
or  rise  exultingly  toward  that  world 

"Where  purity  with  love  appears, 
And  bliss  without  alloy, 
And  they  who  oft  have  sown  in  tears 
Shall  reap  again  in  joy." 

Mr.  Tappan  was  especially  interested  in  the  cause  of 

21* 


246  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HVM.N.v 

Sunday-schools,  and  not  unfrequently  acceptably  occu- 
pied the  pulpits  of  his  brethren, — which  ho  did  on  almost 
the  last  day  of  his  life. 


TATE  AND  BRADY. 


We  have  classed  these  authors  together  because  they 
were  associated  in  the  publication,  in  the  early  part  of 
the  eighteenth  centuiy,  of  the  "New  Version  of  the  Psalms" 
for  use  in  the  Church  of  England, — now,  however,  rapidly 
disappearing  from  our  midst.  A  few — and  but  few — of 
them  are  truly  valuable,  and  will  continue  to  be  used  for 
years  to  come.  Nahum  Tate  was  born  in  Dublin  in  the 
year  1652  and  died  in  1715;  and  Nicholas  Brady,  a 
clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  who  published 
many  sermons,  was  born  at  Brandon,  in  Ireland,  in  1659, 
and  died  in  1726.  It  has  been  remarked  as  a  curious 
circumstance  that  both  of  the  writers  of  the  new  version 
of  the  Psalms  intended  for  the  special  use  of  Englishmen 
were  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle. 

It  is  somewhat  singular  that  neither  the  Old  Version 
nor  the  New  ever  possessed  the  direct  authority  of  Con- 
vocation, though  the  former  so  laid  hold  of  the  popular 
mind  that  not  even  the  translation  of  King  James  I. 
could  disturb  it.  The  New  Version  only  rests  upon  an 
allowance  "by  the  Court  at  Kensington,"  in  1696,  "for 
such  congregations  as  shall  think  fit  to  receive  it." 


G.    TERSTEEGAN.  247 

G.  TERSTEEGAN. 

Translations  of  several  of  the  hymns  of  this  excellent 
German  appear  in  our  books.  Perhaps  the  best-known 
of  them  is  the  one, — 

"Thou  hidden  love  of  God,  whose  height," 

and  another, — 

"  Though  all  the  world  my  choice  deride." 

He  lived,  in  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  a 
life  of  deep,  still  communion  with  God,  choosing  the 
occupation  of  a  ribbon-weaver  because  of  its  tranquillity ; 
and  from  his  humble  home  he  shed  a  blessed  influence 
over  large  numbers  who  sought  his  counsel.  His  light 
seems  to  have  shone  and  to  have  been  diffused  not  so 
much  by  direct  effort  as  because  he  himself  dwelt  so 
much  in  the  light.  His  piety  was  the  fountain  of  his 
poetry;  and  the  beauty  of  his  heavenly  thoughts  glows 
through  the  rudeness  of  the  earthen  vessel  which  holds 
them.  He  died  at  Muilheim,  on  the  Eiihr,  in  the  year 
1769,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six. 


248 


AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 


REV.  AUGUSTUS  M.  TOPLADY. 

This  eminent  man  was  the  son  of  a  military  officer, 
who  died  soon  after  his  birth.  When  about  the  age  of 
sixteen,  he  was  brought  to  the  knowledge  of  Christ  by 
the  preaching  of  a  layman  in  a  barn  in  Ireland.  Top- 
lady  was  even  then  a  scholar,  and  the  preacher  could 
scarcely  spell  his  own  name.  In  1762  he  was  ordained 
in  the  ministry  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  was 
at  length  settled  at  Broad  Hembury,  in  Devonshire, 
where,  and  in  London,  he  remained  till  his  death  in 
1778,  occasioned  by  consumption.  The  well-known  beau- 
tiful hymn, — 

"Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me," 


together  with  several  others,  proceeded  from  his  pen, 
and  will  long  minister  to  the  edification  of  the  Church 
of  Christ.  As  a  preacher,  he  united  many  qualifications 
which  captivated  his  hearers.  He  was  remarkably  dig- 
nified and  serious,  yet  pleasing,  in  his  appearance,  had  a 
melodious  voice,  graceful  action,  and  much  fluency  of 
speech.  Nor  did  he  fail  to  impress  the  hearts  of  many, 
whose  tears  frequently  flowed  with  his  own.  His  un- 
flinching fidelity  may  be  seen  from  the  fact  that,  when 
once  solicited  to  preach  for  a  public  charity,  he  saw 
present  a  noble  lord  accustomed  to  the  sports  of  the  field, 
and  introduced  a  paragraph  from  a  newspaper  in  which 
he  was  described  as  beating  his  opponent  by  "jostling" 


REV.    AUGUSTUS    M.  TOPLADY.  240 

his  horse  into  a  ditch,  and  publicly  cautioned  his  lordship 
lest  he  should  be  "jostled"  into  hell.  Seeing  some  of  his 
congregation  smile,  he  solemnly  exclaimed,  "  It  is  no 
laughing-matter,  gentlemen,  to  be  jostled  into  hell !" 

The  death  of  Toplady  was  indeed  that  of  the  Chris- 
tian. A  short  time  before  his  decease,  at  his  own  re- 
quest, his  physician  felt  his  pulse,  and  was  asked  what 
he  thought  of  it.  His  reply  was  that  "  the  heart  and 
arteries  beat  weaker  and  weaker;"  the  reply  of  the 
dying  saint,  as  the  sweetest  of  smiles  sat  on  his  counte- 
nance, was,  "  Why,  that  is  a  good  sign  that  my  death  is 
fast  approaching;  and,  blessed  be  God,  I  can  add  that  my 
heart  beats  every  day  stronger  and  stronger  for  glory." 
Still  nearer  to  his  end  he  said,  "  Oh,  my  dear  sir,  it  is  im- 
possible to  describe  how  good  God  is  to  me!  Since  I 
have  been  sitting  in  this  chair  this  afternoon — glory  be 
to  his  name! — I  have  enjoyed  such  a  season,  such  sweet 
communion  with  God,  and  such  delightful  manifestations 
of  his  presence  and  love  to  my  soul,  that  it  is  impossible 
for  any  language  to  express  them.  I  have  had  peace 
and  joy  unutterable;  and  I  fear  not  that  God's  consola- 
tions and  support  will  continue."  But,  immediately 
recollecting  himself,  he  continued,  "  What  have  I  said  ? 
God  may,  to-be-sure,  as  a  Sovereign,  hide  his  face  and 
his  smiles  from  me.  However,  I  believe  he  will  not; 
and  if  he  should,  yet  still  will  I  trust  in  him.  I  know  I 
am  safe;  for  his  love  and  his  covenant  are  everlasting." 
Within  an  hour  of  his  death  he  said,  "It  will  not  be 
long   before  God   takes  me;    for  no  mortal   man   can 


250  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

live" — bursting,  while  he  said  it,  into  tears  of  joy — "  after 
the  gloriefl  which  God  has  manifested  to  my  soul." 

Before  we  lay  down  our  pen,  we  are  disposed  to  refer 
to  a  fact  related  by  Dr.  Pomeroy,  in  connection  with  a 
visit  he  made  a  few  years  ago  to  an  Armenian  church 
at  Constantinople,  lie  says  that  he  was  greatly  pleased 
with  their  singing,  though  he  could  not  understand  the 
words.  They  all  sung  the  same  part,  and  while  singing 
the  hymn  their  eyes  were  closed,  and,  as  they  sung,  the 
tears  trickled  down  many  cheeks.  On  inquiry  what  the 
hymn  was,  one  of  the  missionaries  told  him  it  was, — 

"  Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me." 

The  good  doctor  observes,  with  somewhat  of  deserved 
severity,  that  "most  members  of  our  American  churches 
take  precious  good  care  that  the  singing  shall  have  no 
such  effect  on  them." 


MISS  TUCK. 


A  beautiful  hymn  on  heaven,  beginning, — 

"  There  is  a  region  lovelier  far," 

and  one  or  two  others  of  a  similarly  sweet  spirit,  adorn 
some  of  our  books.  They  were  written  by  a  Baptist 
lady  at  Frome,  Somersetshire,  England,  whose  pen  has 
long  furnished  articles  for  some  of  the  English  maga- 
zines. 


RKV.     HAMKL    1TKNF.R.  25] 

REV.  DANIEL  TURNER. 

Most  of  our  hymn-books  contain  a  hymn  beginning,— 

"  Beyond  the  glittering,  starry  sky  ;" 

and  we  have  seen  some  three  or  four  names  attached  to 
it  as  its  author.  The  hymn,  which  may  be  seen  at  full 
length  in  the  "  Baptist  Memorial"  for  1849,  and  which 
contains  twenty-eight  verses,  was  the  joint  production 
of  two  English  Baptist  ministers  of  the  last  century. 
This  question  is  forever  set  at  rest  in  a  note  addressed 
by  the  Rev.  Daniel  Turner,  of  Abingdon,  to  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Rippon,  of  London,  who  published  it  in  the  "  Bap- 
tist Register"  of  which  he  was  the  editor.  The  note, 
dated  February  22,  1791,  ran  thus: — "As  to  your  in- 
quiry concerning  the  hymn,  '  Jesus  seen  of  Angels,'  it  is 
true,  as  you  were  told  by  our  good  brother  Medley, 
that  one  part  of  it  was  made  by  my  dear  friend  the 
Rev.  James  Fanch,  of  Rumsey,  and  the  other  part  by 
me." 

Mr.  Turner  wrote  also  the  hymn, — 

"Jesus,  full  of  all  compassion," 

and  one  or  two  others  in  common  use. 

He  was  born  in  1710  and  died  in  1798.  He  was  ori- 
ginally a  schoolmaster,  but  in  1748  became  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Abingdon,  Berkshire,  England, — an 
office  he  rilled  for  fifty  years.     He  published  a  work  on 


-■)!  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    OF    IIYMNS. 

the  subject  of  full  Christian  communion  among  the 
churches  of  his  own  denomination,  and  an  excellent 
volume  entitled  "  A  Compendium  of  Social  Religion." 


REV.  BENJAMIN  WALLIN. 

This  gentleman,  the  author  of  the  hymn,— 

"  Hail,  mighty  Jesus  !  how  divine 
Is  thy  victorious  sword!" 

was  the  son  of  the  Eev.  Edward  "Wallin,  pastor  of  the 
Baptist  Church,  Maze  Pond,  London,  where  he  was  born 
in  1711.  Though  educated  by  his  father,  Benjamin  says, 
"  Under  his  judicious  and  affectionate  instructions,  both 
as  a  parent  and  a  minister,  I  continued  a  long  time  a 
melancholy  instance  of  the  insufficiency  of  the  best  of 
means  without  a  special  blessing;  but,  I  trust,  before 
his  removal  it  pleased  God,  who  is  rich  in  mercy,  to 
open  the  eyes  of  my  understanding  and  to  change  what 
was  before  only  the  form  to  the  power  of  godliness." 
He  was  educated  under  the  Eev.  John  Needham  and 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Stennett;  but,  having  no  thoughts  of  the 
ministry,  he  entered  into  business ;  and  several  attempts 
were  made  to  induce  him  to  preach  before  he  consented. 
Three  times  did  the  church  at  Maze  Pond  invite  his  ser- 
vices in  this  way,  and  he  replied,  "  When  I  consider  the 
design  of  such  a  call  to  be  employed  more  or  less  in 
preaching  the  gospel,  the  very  thought  strikes  me  with 


REV.    W.    WARD.  253 

terror,  ll  is  a  work  of  tin  awful  nature."  In  July, 
1740,  he  consented  bo  preach  for  the  first  lime;  and  in 
October,  1741,  lie  was  ordained  as  successor  to  his  father, 
lie  occupied  this  position  more  than  forty  years,  dying 
in  February,  1782. 


REV.  W.  WARD. 

The  well-known  missionary  hymn, — 

"Great  God,  the  nations  of  the  earth," 

was  written  by  the  Rev.  William  Ward  on  his  voyage  to 
Bengal,  in  company  with  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Marshman, 
to  join  the  immortal  Carey  in  the  great  work  of  evan- 
gelizing the  heathen,  in  which  labor  they  all  spent  their 
lives,  with  results  that  will  extend  throughout  eternity. 
The  manner  in  which  Dr.  Ward — for  such  he  really 
became,  though  his  modesty  led  him  to  disown  the  title 
— became  connected  with  the  mission  should  not  be  for- 
gotten. A  short  time  before  Carey  went  to  India,  he  was 
walking  in  one  of  the  streets  of  Hull,  and  was  introduced 
to  a  youth  who  had  just  made  a  profession  of  religion 
and  was  then  working  with  a  printer  in  that  town. 
"We  shall,  by-and-by,"  said  Carey,  "want  some  one  to 
print  our  translations  of  the  Scriptures :  hold  yourself 
in  readiness  by  the  time  you  are  needed."  The  circum- 
stance deeply  affected  Ward's  mind;  and  a  few  years 
afterward  he  went  out  to  do  that  very  work,  as  well  as 
to  be  a  pastor  and  an  itinerant. 

22 


254  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMHB. 

Mr.  Ward  was  born  at  Derby,  in  England,  in  1769, 
and  died  in  India  in  1821.  He  paid  two  short  visits  to 
this  country,  where,  as  in  his  voyage  to  England,  he  did 
much  to  extend  the  spirit  of  missions,  and  collected  con- 
siderable sums  to  advance  the  college  at  Serampore, 
which  had  been  originated  by  himself  and  his  brethren. 


REV.  RALPH  WARDLAW,  D.D., 

The  author  of  several  beautiful  hymns,  including  the 
sacramental  one, — 

"Remember  thee  !  Remember  Christ !" 

was  one  of  the  earliest  Congregational  ministers  in  Scot- 
land, where  he  very  successfully  labored  in  the  ministry 
for  fifty  years.  He  was  born  in  1779,  sent  to  the  Uni- 
versity of  Glasgow  before  he  was  twelve  years  of  age, 
and  ordained  in  that  city  in  1803.  He  published,  besides 
his  hymn-book,  a  very  large  number  of  admirable  works, 
and  left  others  in  manuscript.  He  died  in  1853,  aged 
seventy -four  years.  Few  men  of  his  day  rendered  more 
service  to  Christ  and  his  Church. 


REV.  HENRY  WARE,  D.D. 

This  gentleman,  whose  talents  and  learning  were  very 
eminent,  was  a  member  of  a  family  devoted  to  the  minis- 
try among  the  Unitarians,  while  both  his  father  and 


REV.    ISAAC   WATTS,    D.D.  255 

himself  were  professors  in  Harvard  University.  He 
was  born  in  Massachusetts  in  1794,  graduated  at  Har- 
vard in  1812,  and  ordained  in  Boston  in  1817.  He  was 
eminently  devoted  to  his  duties,  and,  as  the  result  of 
excessive  labors,  suffered  greatly  for  several  years  in 
health.  He  died  in  1843.  His  hymns,  few  in  number, 
are  lovely  in  their  spirit,  but  seem  to  us  defective  as  to 
the  great  doctrines  of  evangelical  religion. 


H.  S.  WASHBURN. 


This   gentleman,   the   author  of  several   hymns,   in- 
cluding a  patriotic  one  in  several  of  our  books, — 

"  Let  every  heart  rejoice  and  sing," 
is  a  Christian  merchant,  connected  with  a  Baptist  church 
in  New  England.  He  has  rendered  important  literary 
and  other  services  to  the  cause  of  our  common  Chris- 
tianity, the  happy  results  of  which  we  hope  he  may 
long  live  to  witness. 


REV.  ISAAC  WATTS,  D.D. 

It  has  been  well  remarked,  by  the  anonymous  author 
of  "  The  Voice  of  Christian  Life  in  Song"  that  with  the 
eighteenth  century  the  history  of  English  hymn-books  be- 
gins. The  two  earliest  names  on  the  long  list  of  that  cen- 
tury link  the  story  of  the  faith  in  England,  in  an  interest- 


256  authors  and  orkjin  of  iiymn>. 

ing  way,  with  that  of  the  persecuted  Protectants  on  the 
Continent.     Dr.   Watts,  born  in  1074,   was  ided, 

through  his  mother,  from  a  Huguenot  family  driven 
from  France  by  the  persecutions  in  the  early  part  of 
Queen  Elizabeth's  reign.  And  Dr.  Doddridge  doubtk >88, 
in  his  childhood,  when  his  mother  had  finished  the  Bible- 
lesson  from  the  pictured  Dutch  tiles,  would  often  ask  for 
the  story  of  her  father  Dr.  John  Baumann's  flight  from 
Bohemia,  with  his  little  store  of  money  bound  up  in  his 
girdle,  and  Luther's  German  Bible,  for  all  his  heritage. 
Traditions  of  other  ancestral  wrongs  and  faithful 
deepened  the  early  piety  of  the  two  great  Xon conformist 
hymn-writers, — the  pathetic  stories  of  those  patient  suf- 
ferings for  conscience'  sake  which,  next  to  the  martyr- 
doms of  Mary's  time,  form  the  most  thrilling  chapter  in 
the  history  of  English  Protestantism, — stories  not  then 
condensed  into  national  history,  but  which  the  sufferers 
yet  lived  to  tell;  for  Dr.  TTatts's  mother  also  had  her 
tales  of  her  son's  own  infancy,  when  his  father  lay  in 
prison  for  his  convictions  and  she  had  sat  on  the  stones 
of  his  prison-door  with  her  first-born  in  her  arms. 

It  has  been  well  said  that  Isaac  "Watts  was  born  a  poet. 
His  father  was  a  deacon  of  the  Independent  or  Congre- 
gational Church  at  Southampton,  where  Isaac  was  born 
in  1674.  His  ancestors  had  been  musical :  his  father 
was  not  only  a  man  of  taste  and  intelligence,  but  was 
uiven  to  " versing;"  and  his  mother  used  to  offer  in 
their  boarding-school  prizes  of  farthings  for  the  best  poet- 
ical effusions.     When  Isaac  was  some  seven  years  old, 


REV.    ISAAC    WATTS,   D.D.  257 

his  mother's  copper  medal  was  gained  by  a  somewhat 
saucy  couplet  produced  by  her  son  : — 

11 1  write  not  for  your  farthing,  but  to  try 
How  I  your  farthing-writers  can  outvie." 

Three  years  did  Watts  pursue  his  studies  for  the  Dis- 
senting ministry,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  Eev. 
Mr.  Eowe,  at  ISTewington,  now  absorbed  in  London,  and 
at  little  more  than  eighteen  returned  to  his  father's  house 
to  devote  himself  to  more  private  reading  and  study  in 
preparation  for  the  sacred  office.  With  the  church  in 
wThich  his  father  held  office  he  worshipped.  At  that 
period  there  were  congregations  which  eschewed  all 
psalmody,  and  in  whose  worship  there  was  to  be  heard 
as  little  of  the  voice  of  melody  as  in  a  meeting-house  of 
"  Friends."  But  this  was  not  the  case  in  the  congrega- 
tion of  the  Eev.  Nathaniel  Eobinson.  They  sang  j  and 
some  have  said  it  was  from  Sternhold  and  Hopkins,  or 
from  Barton's  books;  but,  unless  our  memory  greatly 
deceives  us,  we  saw  some  half-century  ago  a  volume  of 
hymns  published  by  one  Brown,  then  sung  at  South- 
ampton. Some  of  these  were  mere  doggerel;  but,  if  we 
remember  rightly,  some  of  Watts's  own  book  only  pre- 
sented a  revised  form  of  what  were  written  "by  his  prede- 
cessor. At  all  events,  Isaac,  at  about  eighteen,  greatly 
complained  of  the  entire  want  of  taste  in  the  hymns 
generally  used,  and  in  return  was  challenged  to  produce 
something  better.  Conscious  of  his  powers,  he  under- 
took to  do  so,  and  very  shortly  afterward  the  service  of 

22* 


258  A  l  TIIuRs    AND    ORKilN    Of    HYMNS. 

the  day  was  closed  by  the  beautiful  composition  which 
begins  his  first  book  : — 

"  Behold  the  glories  of  the  Lamb." 

This  attempt  was  an  innovation,  and  the  poet  was  a 
prophet  of  their  own  country;  but  to  the  devotional  in- 
stincts of  the  worshippers  so  welcome  was  this  "new 
song"  that  they  entreated  the  author  to  repeat  the  ser- 
vice, till,  the  series  extending  Sunday  after  Sunday,  a 
sufficient  number  had  been  contributed  to  form  the 
of  a  book.  Such  was  the  commencement  of  a  work 
which  has  aided  millions  in  their  devotions,  and  which 
will,  probably,  be  useful  to  the  Church  of  Christ  till  the 
end  of  time. 

This  volume,  however,  was  not  published  till  the  year 
1707,  when  he  issued  the  "Hymns  and  Spiritual  Songs" 
For  the  copyright,  Mr.  Lawrence,  the  publisher,  gave 
him  ten  pounds ;  and  in  less  than  ten  years  six  editions 
had  been  sold.     Twelve  years  afterward  he  published' 
what  he  regarded  his  greatest  work,  "  The  Psalmt 
David  imitated  in  the  Language  of  the  New  Testam 
In  reference  to  this  latter  work,  the  American  reader 
will  assuredly  examine  with  interest  a  letter  written  by 
its  author  to  the  Eev.  Dr.  Cotton  Mather.     Its  date  was 
London,  March  17,  1717-1  8. 

"  To  my  honored  and  dear  friend, 

Dr.  Cotton  JIather  of  New  England. 
"Eev.  and  Dear  Sir: — I  may  persuade  myself  of  a 
hearty  acceptance  of  this  little   present   I   make   you. 


REV.    ISAAC    WATTS,    D.D.  259 

They  are  the  fruits  of  some  easy  hours  this  last  year, 
wherein  I  have  not  sought  poetical  flourish,  but  simpli- 
city of  style  and  verse  for  the  use  of  vulgar  [common] 
Christians. 

"  'Tis  not  a  translation  of  David  that  I  pretend,  but 
an  imitation  of  him  so  nearly  in  Christian  hymns  that 
the  Jewish  psalmist  may  plainly  appear  yet  leave  Juda- 
ism behind.  My  little  essay  that  attends  this  manu- 
script will  render  some  of  my  reasons  for  this  way  of 
introducing  the  ancient  Psalms  in  the  worship  of  the 
New  Testament. 

"  The  notes  I  have  frequently  inserted  at  the  end  are 
chiefly  to  render  the  world  a  reason  for  the  particular 
liberties  I  assumed  in  each  Psalm. 

"  If  I  may  be  so  happy  as  to  have  your  free  censure 
and  judgment  of  'em,  it  will  help  me  in  correcting  others 
by  them.  I  entreat  you,  sir,  that  none  of  them  may 
steal  out  into  public.  If  God  allow  me  one  year  more, 
even  under  my  present  weakness,  I  hope  he  will  enable 
me  to  finish  my  design.  To  him  be  all  the  glory. 
Amen.     Your  most  affectionate  lover  and  obliged  friend, 

"  I.  Watts." 

Mr.  Montgomery — and  few  men  were  more  capable 
of  forming  a  correct  judgment — says  that  "Dr.  Watts 
may  almost  be  called  the  inventor  of  hymns  in  our  lan- 
guage j  for  he  so  far  departed  from  all  precedent  that 
few  of  his  compositions  resemble  those  of  his  forerun- 
ners ;  while  he  so  far  established  a  precedent  to  all  his 
successors,  that  none  have  departed  from  it,  otherwise 


200  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    01    HVMNS. 

than  as  according  to  the  peculiar  turn  of  mind  in  the 

writer  and  the  style  of  expressing  Christian  truths  em- 
ployed by  the  denomination  to  which  he  belonged." 

Equally  true  and  beautiful  are  the  same  author's  re- 
marks on  Watts'!  "Divine  Songs  for  Children"  He  says, 
"  These  form  so  small  a  portion  of  his  multiform  labors, 
that  were  they  expunged  the  eye  could  scarcely  perceive 
the  bulk  of  one  of  the  volumes  diminished.  Yet  who 
can  calculate  the  innocent  pleasure  and  the  abiding  profit 
which  those-  few  leaves  have  afforded  to  myriads  of 
minds  through  the  lapse  of  a  century?  And,  much 
more,  who  can  estimate  the  treasure  of  instruction  and 
delight  which  would  thereby  be  lost  to  millions  hereafter 
through  ages  untold  V* 

It  has  been  well  said,  by  another  writer,  "  It  may  ap- 
pear at  the  last  day  that  this  little  work  was  the  most 
useful  of  all  his  publications.  He  has  done  very  much 
by  it  to  Christianize  more  than  one-quarter  of  the  world." 

AYe  think  it  is  Cecil  who  says  that  nothing  about  Dr. 
Watts  surprised  him  so  much  as  that  he  should  have  de- 
scended from  writing  his  "  Logic"  to  compose  his  beauti- 
ful "  Divine  Songs  for  Children."  To  this  we  are  disposed 
to  reply  that  his  severer  exercises  of  mind  most  ad- 
mirably prepared  him  for  the  clear  and  simple  compo- 
sitions in  which  he  afterward  engaged.  These  beau- 
tiful "  Songs"  carry  about  them  evident  indications  of 
■fine  mental  training  and  sweet  condescension  of  spirit 
and  manners,  which  will  be  admired  in  many  of  these 
compositions  till  the  end  of  time. 


REV.    ISAAC    WATTS,    D.D.  2G1 

We  may  mention  here  a  tradition  still  prevalent  in 
the  county  of  Essex.  Castle  Hedingham,  in  that  county, 
was  situated  not  very  far  from  London,  where  the  doctor 
then  resided.  At  the  castle,  from  which  the  village 
took  its  name,  lived  an  excellent  family,  named  Ashhurst, 
who  were  frequently  visited  by  Dr.  Watts  and  other 
London  ministers.  In  the  beautiful  and  secluded  grounds 
of  that  lovely  spot,  tradition  tells  us,  the  pious  poet  com- 
posed many  of  his  " Divine  Songs"  We  can  easily  be- 
lieve the  statement,  as  also  that  the  delightful  scenery 
suggested  some  of  the  finest  thoughts. 

The  remark  often  made  that  the  interest  we  take  in  a 
hymn  is  greatly  augmented  when  we  know  its  history, 
has  seldom  been  more  strikingly  illustrated  than  in  the 
composition  of  Watts  beginning, — 

"  How  vain  are  all  things  here  below  V' 

It  is  well  known  that  the  worthy  doctor  lived  and 
died  a  bachelor.  The  cause  of  this  seems  to  have  been 
that  in  early  life  he  met  with  a  severe  disappointment. 
Attracted  alike  by  the  personal,  the  intellectual,  and  the 
spiritual  loveliness  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Singer,  afterward 
the  well-known  Mrs.  Bowe,  Isaac  Watts  tendered  to  her 
his  heart  and  his  hand,  and  was  unhappily  repulsed, — 
the  lady  telling  him  that,  though  she  loved  the  jewel, 
she  could  not  admire  the  casket  which  contained  it. 
Thus  was  poor  Watts  treated,  as  were  others,  by  this 
excellent  but  surely  somewhat  capricious  lady,  whom 


2G2  \i  rnOBB  and  origin  of  hymns. 

Mrs.  Barbauld  in  some  degree  taunted  when  sbe  said  to 

ber,  in  the  language  of  high  compliment, — 

"  Thynne,  Cartaret,  Blackmore,  Orrery  approved, 
And  Prior  praised,  and  noble  Hertford  loved : 
Seraphic  Ken  and  tuneful  Watts  were  thine, 
And  Virtue's  noblest  champions  filled  the  line." 

Though  disappointed  and  grieved,  the  pious  poet  sub- 
mitted to  what  he  considered  an  arrangement  of  Divine 
Providence,  and  then  wrote  the  hymn  to  which  we  have 
referred,  the  beauty  of  which  both  the  Christian  and 
the  poet  will  admire.  Happy  the  man  who  could  at 
such  a  time  pray, 

"Dear  Saviour,  let  thy  beauties  be 
My  soul's  eternal  food, 
And  grace  command  my  heart  away 
From  all  created  good!'* 

It  was  some  time  since  observed,  by  a  writer  in  the 
"Presbyterian  Quarterly  Review,"  that  in  the  hymn  of 
Watts  beginning,  "There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight," 
"every  image  is  scriptural,  every  suggestion  appro- 
priate, every  association  holy  f  and  he  adds,  "  we  doubt 
whether  any  uninspired  production  has  oftener  softened 
the  heart  or  moistened  the  eyelids." 

"We  learn  from  an  American  writer,  who  obtained  his 
information  on  the  spot,  that  its  author  wrote  this  hymn 
at  Southampton,  his  native  town,  while  sitting  at  the 
window  of  a  parlor  which  overlooked  the  river  Itchen, 
and  in  full  view  of  the  Isle  of  Wight,  "  the  swelling 
flood"  celebrated  in  it,  "  beyond"  which  is  seen  "the  land 
of  pure  delight," 


HEW    ISAAC    WATTS,    D,D.  li * >-> 

•■  Where  everlaetipg  spring  abides 

And  ncvrr-wiiliering  flowers." 

So,  at  Kast,  it  might  seem.  It  is  Indeed  a  fair  and  beau- 
tiful type  of  that  paradise  of  which  the  poet  sung.  It 
rises  from  the  margin  of  the  flood  and  swells  into  bound- 
less prospect,  all  mantled  in  the  richest  verdure  of  sum- 
mer, checkered  with  forest-growth,  and  fruitful  fields 
under  the  highest  cultivation,  and  gardens,  and  villas, 
and  every  adornment  which  the  hand  of  man,  in  a  series 
of  ages,  could  create  on  such  susceptible  grounds.  As 
the  poet  looked  upon  the  waters  then  before  him,  he 
thought  of  the  final  passage  of  the  Christian : — 

"  Death,  like  a  narrow  sea,  divides 
This  heavenly  land  from  ours." 

The  hymn  written  by  Dr.  Watts, — 

"Am  I  a  soldier  of  the  cross  ?" 

was  first  published  by  its  author  at  the  end  of  his  thirty- 
first  sermon,  entitled  "  Holy  Fortitude,  or  Remedies  against 
Fear ;"  the  text,  1  Cor.  xvi.  13  :— "  Stand  fast  in  the 
faith ;  quit  you  like  men ;  be  strong."  The  hymn  itself  is 
a  fine  apostrophe  for  the  use  of  the  Christian  soldier, 
who  is  represented  in  a  review  of  his  character  and  du- 
ties, and  with  an  earnest  desire  to  engage  in  the  conflict 
in  which  he  is  sure  of  victory  by  faith  in  Him  who 
has  already  conquered  all  his  foes.  It  breathes  the  true 
spirit  of  a  soldier  of  the  cross  of  Christ.  He  would 
wear  no  laurel  that  he  does  not  gain  under  the  banner 
of  the  Great  Captain  of  his  salvation.    He  disdains  to  be 


i-'64  AUTHORS  AND  ORIGIfl   OF   HYMNS. 

M  carried  to  the  skies 
On  flowery  beds  of  ease, 
While  others  fought  to  win  the  prize 
And  sailed  through  bloody  seas," 

and  boldly  asks  for  the  foes  he  has  to  face.  After  ex- 
pressing his  resolve  to  fight  his  way  to  heaven,  and  an- 
ticipating the  bliss  he  shall  enjoy,  he  ascribes  all  the 
glory  to  Him  who  hath  purchased  it  with  his  blood. 
Let  every  Christian  soldier  enter  the  warfare  and  con- 
tinue in  it  with  the  spirit  of  this  hymn. 

We  have  elsewhere  spoken  of  the  cordial  friendship 
which  existed  between  Dr.  Doddridge  and  Dr.  Watts; 
and  certainly  the  reader  will  be  gratified  by  a  short  ex- 
tract from  a  letter  of  the  former  excellent  man  to  the 
latter,  relative  to  that  exquisitely  beautiful  hymn, — 

"Give  me  the  wings  of  faith,  to  rise." 

Dr.  Doddridge  thus  affectionately  speaks  to  his  friend : — 
"  On  "Wednesday  last  I  was  preaching  in  a  barn  to  a 
pretty  large  assembly  of  plain  country -people  in  a  village 
a  few  miles  off.  After  a  sermon  from  Heb.  vi.  12,  we 
sung  one  of  your  hymns,  (which,  if  I  remember  right, 
was  the  one  hundred  and  fortieth  of  the  second  book ;) 
and  in  that  part  of  the  worship  I  had  the  satisfaction  to 
observe  tears  in  the  eyes  of  several  of  the  auditory ;  and, 
after  the  service  was  over,  some  of  them  told  me  that 
they  were  not  able  to  sing,  so  deeply  were  their  minds 
affected  with  it;  and  the  clerk,  in  particular,  told  me  he 
could  hardly  utter  the  words  of  it.  These  were  most  of 
them  poor  people,  who  work  for  their  living." 


REV.    ISAAC    WATTS,    D.D.  265 

While  writing  this  article,  we  learn  from  the  English 
newspapers  that  in  the  new  park  just  formed  in  South- 
ampton, the  town  in  which  Dr.  Watts  was  born,  arrange- 
ments are  in  progress  for  the  erection  of  a  statue  to  his 
memory,  to  be  paid  for  by  penny  subscriptions  of  Sunday- 
school  children. 

We  know  not  that  we  can  better  close  this  article 
than  by  a  short  extract  from  Mrs.  S.  C.  Hall's  "  Residence 
of  Dr.  Isaac  Watts,"  now,  alas!  "among  the  things  that 
were."  She  says,  "We  followed  our  conductor  to  the 
top  of  the  house,  where,  in  a  turret  upon  the  roof,  many 
of  Dr.Watts's  literary  and  religious  works  were  composed. 
We  sat  upon  the  seamed  bench,  rough  and  worn,  the 
very  bench  upon  which  he  sat  by  daylight  and  moon- 
light,— poet,  logician,  and  Christian  teacher.  We  were 
in  some  degree  elevated  above  the  dense  and  heavy  fog, 
for  the  heavens  were  clear  and  blue;  but  all  beneath  us 
was  shrouded  in  a  sea  of  mist,  that  would  sometimes 
clear  away  and  then  press  its  yellow  folds  more  closely 
round  every  object  of  interest.  This  was  very  provoking, 
as  we  desired  to  see  what  he  had  seen ;  but  we  remem- 
bered how  out  of  this  good  man's  naturally  irritable 
temperament  he  had  become  gentle,  modest,  and  patient. 
We  could  almost  fancy  the  measured  tones  of  his  sweet, 
eloquent  voice  reproving  our  unthankfulness  for  what 
we  had  already  enjoyed.  .  .  .  The  chamber  upon  whose 
walls  hung  the  parting  breath  of  this  benevolent  man 
might  well  be  an  object  of  the  deepest  interest  to  all 
who  follow,  however  humbly,  the  faith  of  Jesus.     We 

23 


266  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    01    IIV.MNS. 

were  told  of  a  little  child  who,  knowing  every  hymn  he 
had  written,  was  taken  into  his  room,  having  some  \  ; 
but  happy  idea  that  she  should  meet  him  there.     Learn- 
ing, as  she  eagerly  looked  round,  that  the  author  of 

'  Watts's  Hymns'  was  dead,  she  burst  into  bitter  tears, 
which  did  not  cease  while  she  remained  in  the  house." 

Perhaps,  howrever,  the  most  striking  commendation  of 
these  compositions  was  from  the  pen  of  the  energetic  and 
accomplished  William  Wilberforce.  "With  special  refer- 
ence to  the  beautiful  "Summer  Evening"  of  its  author, — 

"  How  fine  has  the  day  been!   how  bright  was  the  sun!" 

he  says,  "It  is  not  for  children  in  years  alone,  but  for 
the  children  of  God  and  the  heirs  of  glory.  And  when 
we  compare  it,  either  in  point  of  good  sense  or  imagina- 
tion, or  its  sterling  value  in  sustaining  hope,  with  the 
considerations  and  objects  which  feed  the  fancy  or  exer- 
cise the  understanding  or  affections  of  the  most  celebrated 
men  who  have  engaged  the  attention  or  called  forth  the 
eulogiums  of  the  literati  of  the  last  century,  we  are 
irresistibly  forced  to  exclaim,  '  Oh,  happy  hymnist !  Oh, 
unhappy  bards !' " 

Before  we  close  this  article,  we  may  refer  to  two  or 
three  compliments  paid  to  the  poetical  writings  of 
Watts,  very  different  in  character,  but  equally  illus- 
trative of  their  influence.  A  copy  of  his  Psalms  and 
Hymns  was  taken  into  Central  Africa  by  Mr.  Anderson, 
the  brother-in-law  and  fellow  traveller  of  the  celebrated 
but  unfortunate  Mungo  Park,  which  the  Landors,  many 


REV.     ISAAC    WATTS,    D.D.  -<>7 

years  afterward,  found  hang  ap  in  the  residence  of  a 
chieftain  ae  tkfetishe,  bo  be  worshipped  as  sacred. 

Another  is  presented  in  a  letter  from  the  ftev.  Dr. 
Colman,  of  Boston,  under  date  of  August  20,  1739: — 
"This  last  year,  at  my  motion,  two  of  our  booksellers 
reprinted  your  '  Songs  for  Children,' — an  edition  of  two 
or  three  thousand,  I  think;  and  your  Hymns  are  just 
now  out  of  the  press,  and  your  Treatise  of  Prayer  in  it. 
I  know  not  whether  you  reckon  our  editions  here  any 
thing;  but  we  do." 

We  may  add  yet  another  fact  of  interest, — that  the 
Hymns  of  Dr.  Watts  were  first  published  in  this  country, 
by  Dr.  Franklin,  in  1741,  and  his  Psalms  the  same  year 
in  Boston;  but  neither  the  Psalms  nor  the  Hymns  were 
generally  used  in  worship  by  our  fathers  till  after  the 
Eevolution. 

Our  readers  will  be  gratified  if  we  give  the  opinion  writ- 
ten by  our  countryman  William  Wirt,  Attorney-General  of 
the  United  States.  "  I  bought  the  other  day,"  he  says,  in  a 
letter  to  his  wife,  "a  copy  of  Watts's  Psalms  and  Hymns. 
Do  you  know  that  I  never  think  of  this  man  without 
such  emotions  as  no  other  human  being  ever  inspires 
me  with  ?  There  is  a  loftiness  in  his  devotion,  and  an 
indifference,  approaching  to  contempt,  for  the  praise  or 
censure  of  the  beings  of  this  nether  world,  which  is 
heroic  and  sublime.  It  is  so  awfully  great  that  even  old, 
surly,  growling  Johnson,  with  all  his  High-Church  pride 
and  arrogance,  felt  its  influence,  and  scarcely  dared  to 
whisper  a  criticism  in  his  life  of  Dr.  Watts, — which  is  a 


\i  i sou  ami  oaioia  01  mm 

cariosity  in  this  particular.    \\  hut  u  -<>ul  ol 

and,  a!  the  same  time,  of  dissolving  tend  thai! 

Il«.w    truly  <li'l    h<  all  the  laciiltio  of  that  BOaJ  t<» 

the  contemplation  of  the  glorj 

He  a  as,  ind<  r  journ<  j  ing  h  and 

seems   to   tuv  irth   and 

heaven  t-»  oompoee  th 

aoulj  rod  I  never  feel  thy  own  wTthlessness  s<- 

a-  when  I  read  bis  oompoeitions  and  comp 

a  itli  hie." 

It  I  raved  to  aa  that  the  colth 

the  art  ofpoetry  1  1  happy  Influence  on  tb 

So  i;  to  have  been  with  Dr.  W 

tol<l  that  In-  was  of  to  extremely  mild  a  disposition  thai, 
when  a  friend  once  blamed  him  for  not  h;r. 
reprimanded  a  man  who  had  done  him  a  Berions  injury, 
In-  replied,  "  I  wish,  my  dear  bit,  yon  wonld  «!«» i: 


THE  WESLEYS. 


I.\  the  early  yean  of  the  eighteenth  century,  while 
Dr.  Doddridge,  daring  hie  solitary  child  ant- 

ing from  hie  mother*!  lips,  in  their  noose  in  London,  h<»w 
tlu-  <;..,!  who  led  Israel  through  the  wild<  • 

•  riled  grandfather  from   Bohemia, — while  tin-  oral 
edition  of   Dr.  Wait-'-  hymn-book   was  h 
bought  up  in  a  single  year, — John  and  Charles  W' 
spending  their  childhood  in  1 1 


TiiK  wisu  269 

at  Bpworth,  in  Lincolnshire,  John  having  been  born  in 
1703,  and  Charles  in  1709.  The  old  Puritan  blood  ran 
in  their  veins :  their  father*!  grandfather  and  father  had 
both  been  ejected  from  the  Established  Church  in  l 
and  the  younger  of  these  had  often  been  in  prison  for  his 
Nonconformity.  Their  mother's  father,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Annealey,  was  also  one  of  the  early  Nonconformists, — a 
man  of  whom  his  daughter  said  that  for  forty  years  his 
deep  sense  of  peace  with  (iod  through  Christ  had  never 
been  broken,  and  who  died  whispering,  "When  I  awake 
up  in  thy  likeness,  I  shall  be  satisfied, — satisfied." ( 

None  of  our  readers  need  to  be  told  that  amidst  perse- 
cution and  contumely  John  and  Charles  Wesley  preached 
the  gospel  of  Christ  throughout  their  long  lives:  the 
hearts  of  thousands  were  awakened)  and  the  morning 
hymn  of  rejoicing  multitudes  went  up  to  that  Sun  of 
Righteousness  which  had  arisen  with  healing  in  his 
wings.  In  one  place,  where  an  enraged  crowd  had 
rushed  into  the  house  where  John  Wesley  was  resting, 
he  addressed  them  with  such  affectionate  faithfulness, 
appealing  to  the  "  thirst"  which  lay  deep  in  their  hearts 
below  their  opposition,  that  the  disorderly  mob  became 
a  peaceable  congregation  and  tears  of  penitence  streamed 
down  the  faces  of  the  ringleaders.  At  another  time  the 
magistrate  who  came  to  prevent  Charles  Wesley  from 
preaching  was  himself  arrested  by  the  preacher's  words, 
listened  to  the  end,  and  went  away  with  a  softened  and 
bumbled  heart.  In  almost  every  place  where  they  were 
thus  assailed,  societies  of  true  converts  sprang  up  out  of 


270  AUTHORS   AND   oRltil.N    of    STUBS. 

the  very  rank-  of  the  persecutors.  It  was  out  of  lives 
such  as  these  that  the  Wesleyan  hymns  were  distilled. 
As  the  reader  has  already  seen,  one  hymn  was  composed 
after  a  wonderful  escape  from  an  infuriated  mob,  another 
alter  deliverance  from  a  storm  at  sea,  and  all  in  the  in- 
tervals of  a  life  of  almost  incessant  toil.  The  pressure 
of  trial  and  the  power  of  faith  drew  many  a  vigorous 
hymn  from  John  Wesley;  but  it  was  Charles  Wesley 
who — in  his  prime,  on  his  preaching-tours,  by  the  road- 
side, amidst  hostile  mobs  or  devout  congregations,  and 
in  his  old  age,  in  his  quiet  journey ings  from  friend  to 
friend — poured  forth  the  great  mass  of  the  Wesleyan 
hymns'*.  Those  hymns  are  now  sung  in  collieries  and 
copper-mines,  in  our  dense  forests  and  on  the  battle-fields 
of  other  lands,  in  the  cradle  and  on  the  death-bed.  How 
many  has  their  heavenly  music  strengthened  in  the  hour 
of  sorrow,  and  given  courage  to  strong  men  and  patience 
to  suffering  women !  They  have  been  a  liturgy  engraved 
on  the  hearts  of  thousands  of  the  poor,  and  have  aided 
in  bearing  the  name  of  Jesus  far  and  wide,  writing  it 
deep  on  countless  hearts.  Truly  has  it  been  said  that 
the  service  he  rendered  to  Methodism — and,  we  will  add, 
to  evangelical  religion — by  his  hymns  did  as  much  as 
John  Wesley's  rules  to  bind  together  the  rough  material 
of  early  Methodism.  They  cxpre>s  even  now  every 
Sabbath  the  religious  emotions  of  tens  of  thousands  of 
worshippers;  and  during  their  whole  history  they  have 
comforted  the  souls  and  fluttered  on  the  dying  lips  of 
myriads  now  before  the  throne. 


THE    WESLEYS.  L'71 

There  is  something  so  remarkably  interesting  in  Mr. 
Moore's  description  of  Charles  Wesley  when  nearly 
eighty  years  old,  that  we  are  sure  our  readers  will  thank 
us  for  transcribing  it: — "He  rode  every  day — clothed 
for  winter  even  in  summer — a  little  horse,  gray  with 
age.  When  he  mounted,  if  a  subject  struck  him,  ho 
proceeded  to  expand  and  put  it  in  order.  He  would 
write  a  hymn,  thus  given  him,  on  a  card  kept  for  that 
purpose,  with  his  pencil,  in  short-hand.  Not  un fre- 
quently he  has  come  to  the  house  in  the  City  Road, 
and,  having  left  the  pony  in  the  garden  in  front,  he 
would  enter,  crying  out,  ( Pen  and  ink !  pen  and  ink  V 
These  being  supplied,  he  wrote  the  hymn  he  had  been 
composing.  When  this  was  done,  he  wrould  look  round 
on  those  present  and  salute  them  with  much  kindness, 
and  thus  put  all  in  mind  of  eternity.  He  was  fond  on 
these  occasions  of  the  lines, — 

'  There  all  the  ship's  company  meet 

Who  sailed  with  the  Saviour  beneath ; 
With  shouting  each  other  they  greet, 

And  triumph  o'er  sorrow  and  death 
The  voyage  of  life's  at  an  end, 

The  mortal  affliction  is  past ; 
The  age  that  in  heaven  they  spend 

For  ever  and  ever  shall  last.'  " 

The  hymn, — 

"  Come,  Desire  of  nations,  come," 

was  written  by  the  Eev.  Charles  Wesley,  and  formed 
part  of  a  tract  consisting  of  nineteen  "Hymns  Occa- 
sioned by  the  Earthquake,  March  8,  1750."     This  tract 


Z1Z  AUTHORS   AM)   ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

wa.fi  intended  to  give  a  right  direction  to  the  extraordi- 
nary consternation  and  excitement  which  prevailed  in 
London  and  its  neighborhood,  occasioned  by  shocks 
which  moved  the  earth,  about  London  and  Westminster, 
westward,  then  to  the  east,  and  then  westward  again, 
attended  with  a  rumbling  noise  like  that  of  thunder. 
Many  houses  were  shaken  and  several  chimneys  thrown 
down ;  but  it  was  believed  that  no  lives  were  lost. 
Thousands  left  their  houses  and  encamped  for  some 
days  in  the  fields.  A  soldier  added  to  the  alarm  by  pre- 
tending that  he  had  a  "  revelation"  that  on  a  certain 
midnight  a  great  part  of  London  would  be  swallowed 
up.  Not  a  few  really  supposed  that  the  day  of  judg- 
ment was  about  to  commence ;  many  churches  were 
thrown  open,  and  Eomaine  and  others  preached  to  the 
crowds  there,  while  Whiten* eld  and  Wesley  preached  in 
Hyde  Park  and  elsewhere,  at  midnight,  to  many  thou- 
sands. Forms  of  prayer  were  appointed  "  by  authority" 
to  be  read  in  the  churches,  prayers  were  composed  for 
the  use  of  families,  sermons  and  letters  were  printed 
on  the  subject,  and  the  results  of  the  whole  matter  were 
very  great.  Nor  was  the  tract  to  which  we  have  re- 
ferred without  its  use.  Its  publication  was  a  happy 
thought.  In  addition  to  the  hymn  we  have  mentioned 
as  thus  called  forth,  was  also  another  which  yet  lives 
arnong  us, — 

"How  weak  the  thoughts  and  vain,"  etc. 

In  1780,  the  TJev.  Charles  Wesley  published,  in  pamph- 


THE    WESLEYS.  273 

let  form,  "Hymns  Written  in  the  Times  of  the  Tumults, 
June,  1780."  These  awful  mob  riots,  so  celebrated  in 
the  annals  of  England,  took  place  in  London  as  the 
result  of  the  imprudent  anti-popish,  violence  of  an  infatu- 
ated peer,  Lord  George  Gordon,  a  man  clearly  insane, 
who  collected  many  thousands  of  persons  to  destroy  the 
chapels  and  the  persons  of  the  Eoman  Catholics.  The 
cowardly  fears  of  the  London  magistrates  and  the  malice 
of  the  mob  were  severely  lashed  in  a  satirical  poem  from 
the  pen  of  Charles  Wesley,  in  which  he  speaks  thus  of  the 
charge  that  the  Methodists  had  aided  the  Eoman  Ca- 
tholics : — 

"Old  Wesley,  too,  to  papists  kind, 

Who  -wrote  against  them  for  a  blind, 

Himself  a  papist  still  in  heart, 

He  and  his  followers  shall  smart  : 

Not  one  of  his  fraternity 

We  here  beneath  our  standard  see." 

In  1782,  Charles  Wesley  also  issued  a  tract  of  forty- 
seven  pages,  entitled  "Hymns  for  the  Nation"  having  a  spe- 
cial reference  to  the  fact  that  England  was  at  war  with 
her  "  rebellious"  transatlantic  colonies.  One  verse  from 
these  hymns,  which  still  remains  in  most  of  theMethodist 
hymn-books,  will  be  read  by  our  friends  with  a  smile  : — 

"Saviour,  whom  our  hearts  adore, 
To  bless  our  earth  again, 
Now  assume  thy  royal  power 
And  o'er  the  nations  reign." 

The  exquisitely-beautiful  hymn, — 

"Come,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost, 
To  whom  we  for  our  children  cry," 


274  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

was  written  by  Charles  Wesle}r,  and  sung  "  at  the  open- 
ing of  a  school  at  Kingswood"  for  preachers'  sons.  lfr. 
Creamer  says,  "  It  has  been  brought  as  a  charge,  in  effect, 
against  Mr.  John  Wesley,  that  he  preferred  genuine 
piety,  even  when  associated  with  ignorance,  to  irre- 
ligion,  though  adorned  with  learning  and  the  adventi- 
tious importance  which  wealth  alone  too  often  confers. 
To  assert  this,  however,  is  only  saying  that  he  had,  in 
spirit,  sat  at  the  Saviour's  feet,  heard  his  word,  and 
learned  of  him.  But  he  saw  no  necessity  for  either; 
and  therefore  he  prayed  himself,  and,  by  putting  the 
words  into  his  hymn-book,  instructed  his  societies  and 
followers  to  pray, — 

4  Unite  the  pair  so  long  disjoined, — 

Knowledge  and  vital  piety  : 
Learning  and  holiness  combined, 

And  truth  and  love,  let  all  men  see 
In  those  whom  up  to  thee  we  give, — 
Thine,  wholly  thine,  to  die  and  live.'  " 

We  are  glad  of  an  opportunity  of  saying  somewhat 
of  the  truly-grand  hymn  written  by  Charles  Wesley, — 

"Thou  God  of  glorious  majesty." 

It  contains,  as  our  readers  all  know,  a  truly-sublime 

verse : — 

"  Lo !  on  a  narrow  neck  of  land, 
'Twixt  two  unbounded  seas  I  stand, 

Secure,  insensible ! 
A  point  of  time — a  moment's  space — 
Removes  me  to  that  heavenly  place 
Or  shuts  me  up  in  hell !" 

This  fine  composition  was  written  on  the  promontory 


THE    WT.M.KYS.  273 

known  in  England  as  "Land's  Kml,"  on  the  coast  of 
Cornwall.  It  is  really  a  a  narrow  neck  of  land"  jutting 
out  into  tin-  Atlantic.  To  pass  over  this  neck  for  the 
purpose  of  reaching  the  outmost  point  of  English  land 
is  somewhat  dangerous.  With  scarcely  foot-room  be- 
neath you,  you  have  on  either  side  a  precipice,  with  the 
sea  washing  its  base;  and,  whether  you  turn  to  the 
right  hand  or  the  left,  your  eye  meets  a  vast  expanse  of 
ocean. 

Mr.  Montgomery,  in  his  "  Christian  Psalmist,"  says  of 
this  hymn,  "  It  is  a  sublime  contemplation, — solemn,  col- 
lected, unimpassioned  thought,  but  thought  occupied  with 
that  which  is  of  everlasting  import  to  a  dying  man 
standing  on  the  lapse  of  a  moment  between  two  eter- 
nities." 

We  shall  add  to  these  remarks  an  extract  from 
Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  under  date  of  October  11,  1819 : — 
"I  write  this  on  the  last  projecting  point  of  rock  of 
the  Land's  End,  upward  of  two  hundred  feet  perpen- 
dicular above  the  sea,  which  is  raging  and  roaring  tre- 
mendously, threatening  destruction  to  myself  and  the 
narrow  point  of  rock  on  which  I  am  sitting.  On  my 
right  hand  is  the  Bristol  Channel,  and  before  me  the 
vast  Atlantic  Ocean.  There  is  not  one  inch  of  land 
from  the  place  on  which  my  feet  rest  to  the  American 
continent.  This  is  the  place  where  Charles  Wesley 
composed  those  fine  lines, — 

4  Lo  !  on  a  narrow  neck  of  land, 
'Twixt  two  unbounded  seas  I  stand.' 


A.UTHOBS   AND   OftlOIM    Of    HY.MNs. 

Charles  Wesley's  hymn, — 

Stand,  the  omnipotent  decree," 

was  written  and  published  in  1756,  with  special  refer, 
to  the  earthquake  which  destroyed  the  city  of  Lisbon  in 
that  year.  Montgomery  Bays,  u  The  hymn  on  the  day 
of  judgment, — '  Stand,  the  omnipotent  decree/ — begins 
with  a  note,  abrupt  and  awakening,  like  the  sound  of 
the  last  trumpet.  This  is  altogether  one  of  the  most 
daring  and  victorious  flights  of  our  author." 

••  Give  me  the  enlarged  desire'' 

was  written  by  Charles  Wesley,  and  was  a  favorite  hymn 
with  the  seraphic  John  Fletcher  of  Madely,  of  whom 
Southey  speaks  as  *•  a  man  of  rare  talents  and  rarer  vir- 
tue. Xo  age  or  country  has  ever  produced  a  man  of  more 
fervent  piety  or  more  perfect  charity;  no  church  has 
ever  j  ssessed  a  more  apostolic  minister."  Mr.  Fletcher 
OS  is  well  known,  at  one  time  the  President,  and 
Mr.  Benson,  his  intimate  friend,  the  Head-Master,  of 
Lady  Huntingdon's  college  at  Trevecca  for  the  education 
of  young  ministers.  Speaking  of  Mr.  Fletcher's  devo- 
tional habits,  Mr.  Benson  says,  u  My  heart  kindles 
while  I  write.  Here  it  was  that  I  saw, — shall  I 
an  angel  in  human  flesh  ?  I  should  not  far  exceed  the 
truth  if  I  said  so.  .  .  .  After  speaking  a  while  in  the 
school-room,  he  used  frequently  to  -ay,  '  A-  many  of  you 
as  are  athirst  for  this  fulness  of  the  Spirit,  follow  me 
into  my  room.'  On  this,  many  of  us  have  instantly  fol- 
lowed him,  and  there  continued  for  two  or  three  hours, 


THE    WESLEYS.  277 

wrestling  like  Jacob  for  the  blessing,  praying  one  after 
another  till  we  could  bear  to  kneel  no  longer.  This  was 
not  done  once  or  twice,  but  many  times.  And  I  have 
sometimes  seen  him  on  these  occasions,  once  in  par- 
ticular, so  filled  with  the  love  of  God  that  he  could  con- 
tain no  more,  but  cried  out,  'O  my  God,  withhold  thy 
hand,  or  the  vessel  will  burst/  But  he  afterward  told 
me  he  was  afraid  he  had  grieved  the  Spirit  of  God,  and 
that  he  ought  rather  to  have  prayed  that  the  Lord  would 
have  enlarged  the  vessel,  or  have  suffered  it  to  break, 
that  the  soul  might  have  had  no  further  bar  or  interrup- 
tion to  the  enjoyment  of  the  Supreme  God.  For,  as 
Mr.  Wesley  has  observed,  the  proper  prayer  on  such  an 
occasion  would  have  been, — 

Give  me  the  enlarged  desire, 

And  open,  Lord,  my  soul, 
Thy  own  fulness  to  require 

And  comprehend  the  whole : 
Stretch  my  faith's  capacity 

Wider  and  yet  wider  still ; 
Then  with  all  that  is  in  thee 

My  ravished  spirit  fill.'  " 

The  well-known  hymns, — 

"Woe  to  the  men  on  earth  who  dwell," 
and 

"By  faith  we  find  the  place  above," 

were  written  by  Charles  Wesley,  and  were  first  printed 
by  him  in  a  tract  about  1756.  They  were  parts  of  a  long 
hymn  he  wrote  on  the  then  recent  destruction  of  Lisbon; 
and,  read  with  this  fact  in  view,  their  interest  is  greatly 

24 


Ziti  AUTHORS    AND    ORKJIN    OF    II YM 

increased.  lie  wrote  about  that  period  many  hymns 
much  adapted,  alike  by  their  sentiments  and  beauty,  to 
impress  the  public  mind  from  the  passing  events  of  that 
important  period. 

The  very  excellent  and  graphic  hymn, — 

*  Glory  to  God,  whose  sovereign  grace," 

was  written  by  Charles  Wesley  "for  the  Kingswood 
colliers  f  but  we  are  sorry  to  see  that  Wesley's  last  two 
verses  have  been  omitted  from  our  modern  books : — 

"Suffice  that  for  the  season  past 

Hell's  horrid  language  filled  our  tongues, 
We  all  thy  words  behind  us  cast, 

And  lewdly  sang  the  drunkard's  songs. 

But — oh,  the  power  of  grace  divine  ! — 
In  hymns  we  now  our  voices  raise, 

Loudly  in  strange  hosannas  join, 

And  blasphemies  are  turned  to  praise." 

These  verses,  as  well  as  such  words  as  "senseless 
stories,"  "reprobates,"  and  "outcasts,"  will  be  better 
understood  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  tract  of 
country  called  Kingswood,  consisting  of  from  three  to 
four  thousand  acres,  formerly  a  royal  chase,  and  lying 
near  Bristol,  England,  supplies  to  that  city  the  greater 
part  of  its  fuel.  It  was  in  the  days  of  the  Wesleys  and 
Whitefield  inhabited  by  a  far  more  brutal  and  lawless 
race  than  any  of  their  fathers,  in  the  persons  of  the 
colliers,  differing  as  much  from  the  people  of  the  sur- 
rounding country  in  dialect  as  in  appearance.  Of  these 
people  many  of  the  Christians  of  Bristol  said  to  George 


THE   WESLEYS..  279 

Whitefield,  when  be  was  preparing  to  embark  for 
Georgia  to  preach  to  the  Indians,  "  What  need  of  going 
abroad  for  this?  Have  we  not  Indians  enough  at  home  ? 
If  you  have  a  mind  to  convert  Indians,  there  are  colliers 
enough  in  Ki?igswood."  Here,  under  an  old  sycamore- 
tree  on  Hanham  Mount,  that  great  man  preached  his 
first  sermon  in  the  open  air  to  about  a  hundred  colliers. 
This  number  rapidly  increased,  till  they  sometimes 
amounted  to  nearly  twenty  thousand  persons.  He  says, 
"  The  first  discovery  of  their  being  affected  was  in  the 
white  gutters  made  by  their  tears,  which  plentifully  fell 
down  their  black  cheeks,  as  they  came  up  out  of  their 
coal-pits.  Hundreds  and  hundreds  of  them  were  soon 
brought  under  deep  convictions,  which  happily  ended  in 
sound  and  thorough  conversion." 

Compelled  to  embark  for  America,  Whitefield  pre- 
vailed on  John  "Wesley  to  succeed  him  in  this  interesting 
charge;  and  we  scarcely  need  to  remark  that  Kingswood 
has  ever  since  been  regarded  as  a  sacred  spot  in  eccle- 
siastical history.  Here  houses  of  prayer  for  Wesleyan 
Methodists  and  Independents  were  soon  erected,  and  in 
them  thousands  have  been  converted  to  God.  Here  was 
placed  the  first  school  for  the  sons  of  Methodist  preachers; 
and  on  Hanham  Mount,  besides  the  voice  of  Whitefield, 
have  been  heard  those  of  the  Wesleys,  Coke,  and  Mather; 
and  here  Pawson  and  Benson  and  Bradburn  accom- 
plished some  of  the  mightiest  effects  which  followed 
their  powerful  preaching. 


280  Authors  and  <»rk;in  oi  hymns. 

It  has  been  supposed  that  the  two  hymns  of  Charles 
Wesley, — 

"Oft  have  we  passed  the  guilty  night," 
and 

"  Hearken  to  the  solemn  voice," 

were  the  first  two  hymns  composed  by  this  author  for 
watch-night  services.  Dr.  Southey  terms  these  watch- 
nights  "another  of  Wesley's  objectionable  institutions  ;" 
and  yet  they  had  a  very  lovely  origin.  They  began 
among  the  converted  colliers  of  Kingswood,  who,  having 
in  the  days  of  their  folly  given  their  Saturday  nights  to 
drinking  in  the  ale-house,  after  their  hearts  had  been 
changed  gave  these  same  hours  to  worship  God  in  the 
school-house,  continuing  their  hymns  and  prayers  late 
into  the  Sabbath  morning.  These  services  contributed 
greatly  to  their  spiritual  advantage ;  and  John  Wesley 
determined  to  introduce  them  into  all  his  societies.  In 
1742 — the  date  of  the  first  publication  of  these  two 
hymns — he  appointed  a  monthly  watch-night  during  the 
full  moon :  this  service  is  still  continued  at  the  close  of 
every  year,  and  has  in  later  years  been  imitated  by  many 
congregations  of  other  denominations 

;i  Worship,  and  thanks,  and  blessing," 

was  a  "  blast,"  as  Mr.  Creamer  says,  written  by  Charles 
Wesley  "  after  deliverance  in  a  tumult/'  and  was  often 
sounded  on  similar  occasions.  We  have  no  certain  in- 
formation as  to  its  precise  date.  One  account  of  "  a  mob 
at  Devizes,"  written  by  the  author,  as  occurring  in  1747, 
and  copied  from  Jackson's  Life  of  Charles  Wesley,  closes 


THE    WESLEYS.  281 

in  so  interesting  a  manner  that  the  reader  will  be  glad 
to  refresh  his  memory  with  it : — 

"After  riding  two  or  three  hundred  yards,  I  looked 
back  and  saw  Mr.  Merton  on  the  ground,  in  the  midst 
of  the  mob,  and  two  bull-dogs  upon  him.  One  was  first 
let  loose,  which  leaped  at  the  horse's  nose;  but  the 
horse  with  his  foot  beat  him  down.  The  other  fastened 
on  his  nose  and  hung  there,  till  Mr.  Merton,  with  the 
butt-end  of  his  whip,  felled  him  to  the  ground.  Then 
the  first  dog,  recovering,  flew  at  the  horse's  breast  and 
fastened  there.  The  beast  reared  up,  and  Mr.  Merton 
slid  gently  off.  The  dog  kept  his  hold  till  the  flesh  tore 
off.  Then  some  of  the  men  took  off  the  dogs;  others 
cried,  'Let  them  alone.'  But  neither  beast  nor  man  had 
any  further  commission  to  hurt.  I  stopped  the  horse 
and  delivered  him  to  my  friend.  JIc  remounted  with 
great  composure,  and  we  rode  on  leisurely,  as  before, 
till  out  of  sight.  Then  we  mended  our  pace,  and  in  an 
hour  came  to  Seend,  liaving  rode  three  miles  about,  and 
by  seven  to  Wraxall.  The  news  of  our  danger  was  got 
there  before  us ;  but  we  brought  the  welcome  tidings  of 
our  deliverance.  Now  we  saw  the  hand  of  Providence 
in  suffering  them  to  turn  out  our  horses;  that  is,  to 
send  them  to  us  against  [by  the  time]  we  wanted  them. 
Again,  how  plainly  were  we  overruled  to  send  our  horses 
down  the  town, — which  blinded  the  rioters  without  our 
designing  it,  and  drew  off  their  engines  and  them,  leaving 
us  a  free  passage  at  the  other  end  of  the  town  !  We  joined 
in  hearty  praises  to  our  Deliverer,  singing  the  hymn, — 

24* 


282  AUTHORS    ANT)    <»RT(iIN    OF    HYMN- 

'Worship,  and  thanks,  and  blessing.'" 

Men  who  could  thus  suffer  and  sing  would,  under 
similar  circumstances,  be  as  ready  as  Daniel  to  be  cast 
into  the  lions'  den,  or  to  enter,  like  the  three  Hebrew 
children,  the  fiery  furnace,  even  though  it  were  heated 
seven  times  hotter  than  usual. 

The  hymn,— 

"Oh  for  a  thousand  tongues,  to  sing," 

is  said  to  have  been  written  by  Charles  "Wesley  on  the 
first  anniversary  of  the  conversion  of  himself  and  his 
brother  John.  It  originally  contained  eighteen  verses, 
and  was  entitled  "For  the  Anniversary  of  One's  Conver- 
sion." It  was  first  published  in  the  year  1739. 
The  hymn, — 

"  Come,  0  thou  all-victorious  Lord," 

was  also  written  by  Charles  Wesley  u  before  preaching 
at  Portland,"  a  peninsular  parish  of  England,  opposite 
"Weymouth,  in  the  county  of  Dorset.  It  is  remarkable 
for  its  stone-quarries,  from  which  an  abundant  supply  is 
sent  to  different  parts  of  England  and  elsewhere  and 
where  very  many  of  its  inhabitants  are  engaged  in  this 
kind  of  labor.  These  facts  probably  suggested  two 
lines  in  the  first  verse : — 

"  Strike  -with  the  hammer  of  thy  word, 
And  break  these  hearts  of  sto7ie." 

The  well-known  animated  and  emphatic  hymn, — 
"  See  how  great  a  flame  aspires," 


THE    WESLEYS. 


283 


was  composed  by  Charles  Wesley  "after  preaching  to 
the  Newcastle  colliers"  on  the  joyful  occasion  of  its 
author's  ministerial  success,  and  that  of  his  fellow- 
laborers,  among  that  rough  and  hardy  people.  Mr. 
Jackson,  Mr.  Wesley's  biographer,  says,  "  Perhaps  the 
imagery  was  suggested  by  the  large  fires,  which  illumi- 
nate the  whole  part  of  that  country  in  the  darkest 
nights." 

The  hymn, — 

"Jesus,  from  thy  heavenly  place," 

was  written  by  Charles,  and  in  the  English  Methodist 
hymn-book  has  the  line, — 

"  Our  king's  peculiar  treasure  prove." 

Dr.  Floy,  in  the  "  Methodist  Episcopal  Quarterly  Review" 
for  1844,  says,  "Father  Hitt,  to  suit  it  to  republican 
America,  altered  the  word ;  and  we  now  pray  that  '  piety 
sincere'  may  prove  the  peculiar  treasure  of  our  land,  and 
that  it  may  be  inspired  with  humble  love/  M 
The  hymn  written  by  Charles  Wesley, — 

"Long  have  I  seemed  to  serve  thee,  Lord," 

was  written  under  peculiar  circumstances.  In  the  year 
1740,  considerable  disputes  originated  in  some  of  the 
Methodist  societies  and  rent  some  of  them  in  pieces. 
They  were  occasioned  by  a  man  named  Molther,  who 
had  been  a  Moravian,  and  who  introduced  what  was 
called  the  doctrine  of  stillness,  denying  that  divine  grace 
or  the  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  transmitted  in  the 
use  of  means,  especially  through  the  ordinance  of  the 


284  AUTHORS    AM)    ORKIIN    OF    IIYM\>. 

Lord's  Supper.     Mr.  Jackson,  the  biographer  of  Wesley, 

well  says,  "  This  fine  hymn  guards  against  extn 
both  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left,  and  embodies 
those  just  views  on  the  subject  which  the  brothers 
steadily  maintained  to  the  end  of  their  lives.  Charles 
Wesley  used  to  call  on  the  right-minded  people  in  his 
congregation  at  the  Foundery,  London,  to  unite  with 
him  in  singing  it;  and  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  any 
enlightened  Christian  could  refuse  to  join  in  the  holy 
exercise.  Its  effect  at  the  time  must  have  been  very 
powerful."  The  whole  hymn  contained  twenty-three 
verses. 

Every  one  knows  that  the  beautiful  hymn, — 

"  Come,  let  us  join  our  friends  above," 

was  written  by  Charles  "Wesley.  Some  years  after  his 
death,  and  not  long  before  his  own  decease,  the  Eev. 
John  Wesley,  being  in  London,  officiated  in  his  own 
chapel  in  City  Eoad.  After  the  morning  prayers  had 
been  read,  he  ascended  the  pulpit;  but,  instead  of  im- 
mediately announcing  the  hymn  to  be  sung,  to  the  great 
surprise  of  the  congregation,  he  stood  silent,  with  his 
eyes  closed  for,  it  has  been  said,  at  least  ten  minutes, 
wrapt  in  intense  thought.  Having  done  this,  with  a 
feeling  which  at  once  told  where  his  spirit  had  been 
communing,  he  solemnly  read  this  hymn.  We  can  easily 
imagine  the  effect  this  produced  on  the  minds  of  those 
persons  who  well  knew  both  the  men. 

We  may  add  here  that  the  Eev.  Thomas  Spencer,  a 


THE    WESLEYS.  285 

Yciv  popular  Congregationalist  minister,  who  died,  while 
bathingj  in  his  twenty-first  year,  at  Liverpool,  England, 
in  1811,  had  this  hymn  almost  constantly  on  his  mind 
for  several  weeks  before  his  lamentable  decease.  He 
was  often  heard  privately  to  sing  it,  and  more  than  once 
conversed  on  its  subject  with  his  friends, — little  thinking, 
however,  how  soon  he  should  join  his  friends  who  had 
"  crossed  the  flood." 

In  speaking  of  the  hymn, — 

11  God  is  in  this  and  every  place," 

Mr.  Creamer,  in  his  "  Methodist  Hymnology"  says  on  the 
lines, — 

"And  have  I  measured  half  my  days, 
And  half  my  journey  run  ?" 

"  It  is  a  coincidence  worthy  of  notice  in  this  connection, 
that  when  Mr.  Charles  Wesley  composed  this  hymn  he 
wTas  about  forty  years  old  :  he  died  aged  eighty;  hence  he 
had  just,  in  his  own  beautiful  language, — 

\  measured  half  his  days, 
And  half  his  journey  run.'  " 

Charles  Wesley's  hymn, — 

"  The  great  archangel's  trump  shall  sound," 

was  written  "  after  a  deliverance  from  death  by  the  fall 
of  a  horse."  It  originally  consisted  of  twelve  verses : 
two  of  those  now  omitted  referred  thus  to  the  accident : — 

"  How  blessed  whom  Jesus  calls  his  own  ! 
How  quiet  and  secure  from  harms ! 


28G  AUTHORS    AND   ork;i\   Of   HYMNS. 

The  adversary  cast  us  down, — 

The  Saviour  caught  us  in  his  arms. 

"  'Twas  Jesus  checked  his  straitened  chain 

And  curbed  the  malice  of  our  foe : 
Allowed  to  touch  our  flesh  with  pain, 
No  further  could  the  murderer  go." 

The  beautiful  funeral  hymn, — 

"Shrinking  from  the  cold  hand  of  death," 

was  from  the  pen  of  Charles  Wesley,  of  whose  personal 
habits  in  old  age  we  have  already  spoken  ;  and  connected 
with  the  third  verse  of  this  hymn  Mr.  Moore  records  a 
pleasing  anecdote  of  John  Wesley : — "When  his  increasing 
infirmities  were  perhaps  more  apparent  to  others  than 
himself,  he  would  omit  none  of  his  religious  duties  or 
labors.  Herein  he  would  listen  to  no  advice.  His  almost 
continual  prayer  was,  l  Lord,  let  me  not  live  to  be  use- 
less P  At  every  place,  after  giving  to  the  society  what 
he  desired  them  to  consider  as  his  last  advice, — '  To  love 
as  brethren,  fear  God,  and  honor  the  king,' — he  invariably 
concluded  with  the  verse, — 

1  Oh  that  without  a  lingering  groan 

I  may  the  welcome  word  receive, 
My  body  with  my  charge  lay  down, 
And  cease  at  once  to  work  and  live !'  " 

Another  of  Charles  Wesley's  funeral  hymns  begins, — 

"Again  we  lift  our  voice." 

It  was  composed  "  On  the  death  of  Samuel  Kitchens," 
one  of  Mr.  Wesley's  first  preachers,  who  died  in  the 


THE    WBSLBTS,  287 

year  1747,  after  itinerating  two  years.  From  the  fifth 
verse  we  learn  that  he  was  wry  young: — 

"Thou,  in  thy  youthful  prime, 
Hast  leaped  the  bounds  of  time; 
Suddenly  froin  earth  released, 

Lo !  we  now  rejoice  for  thee, 
Taken  to  an  early  rest, 

Caught  into  eternity." 

The  beautiful  hymn  by  Charles  Wesley, — 
"Infinite  God!  to  thee  we  raise," 

is  an  elegant  paraphrase  of  the  "  Te  Deum  Laudamus." 
Mr.  Benjamin  Love,  in  his  "Records  of  Wesley  an  Life," 
says,  "  It  is  questionable  whether  there  is  any  produc- 
tion merely  human  worthy  of  being  considered  a  rival 
to  the  Te  Deum ;  and  that  person  must  be  dead  indeed 
to  every  spiritual  feeling  and  emotion  who  can  utter 
with  his  lips  its  touching  sentences  and  remain  in  heart 
unaffected  and  unimpressed.  Who  can  repeat  the  solemn 
truth, '  We  believe  that  thou  shalt  come  to  be  our  Judge/ 
and  not  be  unmoved  V*  Or  who  can  sing,  in  the  strain 
of  the  Methodist  poet, — 

"And  thou,  with  judgment  clad,  shalt  come, 
To  seal  our  everlasting  doom," 

without  a  fervent  prayer  to  find  mercy  in  that  day  ? 

"Thou  hidden  love  of  God,  whose  height," 

is  a  translation  by  the  pen  of  John  Wesle}^  from  the 
German  of  Gerhard  Tersteeo-an.     In  his  "  Plain  Account 


288  AUTHORS   AND   ORIGIN    01    HYMNS. 

of  Perfection,"  Mr.  Wesley  tells  us  ho  wrote  this  hymn 
at  Savannah,  Georgia,  in  1730,  and  quotes  the  following 
lines  to  show  what  his  religious  feelings  then  were  : — 

"  Is  there  a  thing  beneath  the  sun 

That  strives  with  thee  my  heart  to  share ! 
Ali,  tear  it  thence,  and  reign  alone, 
The  Lord  of  every  motion  there!" 

Dr.  Southey,  in  his  Life  of  Wesley,  connects  these  lines 
with  the  love-affair  with  which  Mr.  Wesley  was  con- 
nected in  this  country,  and  which  ended  in  disappoint- 
ment, and  thinks  they  were  written  on  that  occasion ; 
nor  are  we  aware  of  any  objection  to  this  theory  of  the 
matter. 

The  hymn, — 

"How  happy  is  the  pilgrim's  lot!" 

was  the  production  of  Mr.  John  Wesley,  and,  as  Mr. 
Creamer  has  very  justly  said,  has  attracted  as  much 
attention  as  any  other  in  the  Methodist  hymn-book. 
We  cannot  speak  of  this  hymn  better  than  in  the  words 
of  the  gentleman  to  whom  we  have  referred : — "  This 
hymn  has  been  admired  by  thousands  not  known  by  the 
name  of  Methodists,  with  whom  it  has  always  been  a 
great  favorite,  as  well  on  account  of  the  remarkable 
character  of  its  sentiments  as  the  elegant  simplicity  of 
its  diction.  Throughout  the  composition  the  author  has 
made  personal  reference  to  himself.  His  opinions  upon 
the  subject  of  matrimony  at  one  time  of  life  are  well 
known  to  all  acquainted  with  his  history ;  and  this  hymn 


Tin:  wkslkvs.  289 

wais  published  about  five  years  before  his  unhappy  union 
with  his  wife,  at  a  period  when  he  had  probably  no  in- 
tention of  ever  entering  the  marriage-state,  and  breathes 
only  the  language  of  one  who  had  devoted  to  God,  as 
he  had  done,  his  ease,  his  time,  his  life,  his  reputation. 
There  are  traits  about  it  which  cannot  be  mistaken; 
see,  for  instance,  verses  four,  five,  and  six :  but  there  is 
another  verse,  which  has  been  omitted  from  our  [the 
Methodist]  hymn-book,  that  is  still  more  characteristic 
of  the  author's  sentiments  at  the  time  of  life  when  it 
was  written.     It  runs  thus: — 

'  I  have  no  sharer  of  my  heart, 

To  rob  my  Saviour  of  a  part 

And  desecrate  the  whole : 

Only  betrothed  to  Christ  am  I, 

And  wait  his  coming  from  the  sky, 

To  wed  my  happy  soul.'  " 

"  Some  of  the  expressions  in  this  stanza,"  Mr.  Creamer 
adds,  "are  very  similar  to  many  found  in  Moravian 
hymns,  and  may  have  resulted  from  his  intimate 
intercourse  with  those  people  in  the  early  part  of  his 
ministry." 

"  Behold  the  Saviour  of  mankind" 

was  written  by  the  Eev.  Samuel  Wesley,  the  father  of 

the  Eev.  Messrs.  John  and  Charles  Wesley,  and  is  said 

to  have  been  preserved  in  a  very  singular  manner  when 

its  author's  parsonage  was  consumed  by  fire,  the  second 

time,  August  24,  1709,  when  John,  his  son,  was  saved 

from  death  almost  by  miracle.    "Among  other  mementos 

25 


290  AUTHORS    AND    ORKJIN    OF    BTMHI 

of*  this  calamity,"'  Bays  the  editor  of  '•  Dr.  Adam  Clarke  s 
II '  dey  Family"  "four  leaves  of  music  may  be  noticed, 
the  edges  of  which  bear  the  marks  of  the  tire  and  may 
be  handed  down  to  posterity  as  a  curiosity.  Charles 
Wesley,  Jr.,  has  written  on  one  of  the  leaves,  'The 
words  by  my  grandfather,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wei 
Probably  the  music  was  adapted  by  Henry  Pureell,  or 
Dr.  Blow.'  M  These  remarks  are  followed  by  "A  Hymn 
on  the  Passion :  the  words  by  the  Pev.  Mr.  Samuel 
Wesley,  Rector  of  Epworth,  in  the  diocese  of  Lincoln. " 

That  hymn,  however,  contains  two  verses  which  are  now 
generally  omitted.     They  were  the  second  and  sixth: — 

11  Though  far  unequal  our  low  praise 

To  thy  vast  sufferings  prove, 

0  Lamb  of  God,  thus  all  our  days. 

Thus  will  we  grieve  and  love ! 

"  Thy  loss  our  ruin  did  repair  ; 
Death  by  thy  death  is  slain  : 
Thou  wilt  at  length  exalt  us  where 
Thou  dost  in  glory  reign." 

Samuel  Wesley,  Jr.,  was  the  elder  brother  of  John 

and   Charles  Wesley:    he   manifested  a   poetical   taste 

even   in  childhood,  and  produced  a  few  of  the  finest 

hymns  in  Methodist  psalmody,  including,— 

"The  Lord  of  Sabaoth  let  us  prai-e." 

"Hail,  Father,  whose  creating  call," 

"  Hail,  God  the  Son.  in  glory  crowned," 
and 

'•  The  morning  flowers  display  their  sweets.** 

The  last-named  hvmn  was  written  on  the  death  of  a 


HENRY    K1KKB    WHITE.  291 

young  lady,  and  is  founded  on  Isaiah  xl.  6,  8. : — "All  flesh 
is  grass,  and  all  the  goodliness  thereof  as  the  flower  of 
the  field.  .  .  .  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth ; 
but  the  word  of  our  God  endureth  forever."  Mr. 
( 'reamer  very  truly  says,  "  The  author  has  completed  his 
task  in  a  most  interesting  and  pleasing  manner.  The 
imagery  is  touching;  and,  although  the  subject  is  of  a 
melancholy  character,  he  has  thrown  light  among  the 
shadows  and  intermingled  beauty  with  the  gloom.  The 
hymn  cannot  be  read  without  emotion." 


HENRY  KIRKE  WHITE. 

This  lovel}T  youth,  who  died  of  excessive  study  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  has  furnished  several  compositions  to 
our  hymnology,  including  the  beautiful  hymn, — 

"When  marshalled  on  the  nightly  plain." 

He  was  the  son  of  a  butcher,  and  was  born  at  Notting- 
ham, England,  in  1785.  On  account  of  the  delicacy  of 
his  constitution,  he  was  taught  the  trade  of  a  stocking- 
weaver;  but  his  attachment  to  learning  became  so  well 
known  that  he  was  soon  taken  into  the  office  of  an 
attorney,  where  his  marvellous  love  of  Latin  and  Greek, 
in  connection  with  his  piety  and  his  ambition  for  the 
clerical  office,  induced  Messrs.  "Wilberforce  and  Simeon 
to  send  him  to  the  University  at  Cambridge.  At  eighteen 
he  published  a  poem;  and  after  his  death  his  " Poems, ,"' 


292  AUTHORS    a.M»    ORIGIN    01    HYMNS. 

"Letters  and  Fragments"  were  edited  by  Dr.  Southey  in 
two  octavo  volumes.  He  lived  greatly  beloved  and 
died  much  lamented.  He  w&B  buried  in  the  chancel 
of  All-Saints'  Church,  Cambridge,  where  a  few  years 
afterward  an  American  gentleman  named  Boott  erected 
a  handsome  tablet  to  his  memory,  executed  in  bas- 
relief  by  Chantrey,  on  which  are  engraved  the  follow- 
ing beautiful  lines  from  the  pen  of  Professor  Smyth : — 

"Warm  with  fond  hope  and  learning's  sacred  flame, 
To  Granta's  bowers  the  youthful  poet  came  : 
Unconquered  powers  the  immortal  mind  displayed, 
But,  worn  with  anxious  thought,  the  frame  decayed. 
Pale  o'er  his  lamp,  and  in  his  cell  retired, 
The  martyr-student  faded  and  expired. 
Oh,  genius,  taste,  and  piety  sincere, 
Too  early  lost  'midst  studies  too  severe ! 
Foremost  to  mourn  was  generous  Southey  seen : 
He  told  the  tale,  and  showed  what  White  had  been, 
Nor  told  in  vain ;  for  o'er  the  Atlantic  wave 
A  wanderer  came,  and  sought  the  poet's  grave ; 
On  yon  low  stone  he  saw  his  lonely  name, 
And  raised  this  fond  memorial  to  his  fame." 


JOHN  G.  WHITTIER. 

How  this  Quaker  poet — nay,  even  this  hymn- writer — 
would  have  fared  among  his  own  people  some  two 
centuries  ago,  it  is  now  difficult  to  say;  for  assuredly 
they  would  have  utterly  opposed  such  doings,  and  would 
probably  have  "  put  him  out  of  meeting."  We,  however, 
cordially  thank  him  for  the  pleasure  which  his  hymns 


REV.    WILLIAM    WILLIAMS.  293 

have  afforded  us.     Mr.  Whittier  wa>  born  in  1808,  and 
has  devoted  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  to  literature. 

And  yet,  after  all,  while  we  think  Mr.  Whittier  a 
poet, — the  poet  of  humanity, — the  Ebenezer  Elliott  of  the 
United  States, — we  have  no  expectation  that  any  of  the 
hymns  he  has  written  will  be  sung  in  the  worshipping 
assemblies  of  coming  generations.  They  want  the  glow- 
ing ardor  and  the  evangelical  unction  which  only  can 
make  hymns  popular  with  Christian  masses.  TVTe  should 
delight  to  see  the  honest  Quaker  possessing  the  piety  of 
our  old  Friend  Joseph  John  Gurney :  he  might  then 
write  hymns  on  "Christ  and  his  Cross''  which  might 
live  till  the  death  of  time. 


REV.  WILLIAM  WILLIAMS. 

This  distinguished  Welsh  poet  was  born  in  1717,  in 
Caermarthenshire,  and  was  originally  educated  for  the 
medical  profession.  His  biographer  tells  us  that  "his 
religious  feelings  were  at  first  painful.  His  convictions 
of  sin  were  deep  and  alarming,  but  his  subsequent  joy 
proportionably  high."  He  was  ordained  a  curate  in  the 
English  Church,  but,  after  thus  laboring  for  three  years, 
was  encouraged  by  Whitefield  and  the  Countess  of 
Huntingdon  to  become  an  itinerant  minister  among  the 
Calvinistic  ^Methodists.  His  labors  were  incessant  and 
greatly  blessed.     He  is  said  to  have   travelled   on   an 


294  AUTHORS    AM)   ORIGIN    <>r    RJMNS 

average  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  thirty  miles  a 
year  for  forty-three  years,  when  there  were  no  railroads 
and  but  few  stage-coaches.  His  last  illness  was  occa- 
sioned by  intense  study  in  writing  a  book  called  "A 
View  of  the  Kingdom  of  Christ/'  and  in  his  last  hours  his 
speech  failed  him;  but  he  was  evidently  very  happy, 
lie  died  in  1791.  He  published  several  hymn-books  in 
his  own  language,  which  are  still  much  used,  such  as 
"The  Sea  of  Glass/'  " Hosanna  to  the  Son  of  David,"  etc. 
His  hymns, — 

"O'er  the  gloomy  hills  of  darkness," 
"  Guide  me,  0  thou  Great  Jehovah," 

and  several  others,  are  equally  known  and  esteemed. 
His  Memoir  was  published  by  a  brother  Welshman  a 
few  years  ago. 


NATHANIEL    P.  WILLIS. 

The  beautiful  hymn  so  often  sung  at  the  dedication 
of  churches,  and  which  has  already  appeared  in  several 
of  our  hymn-books,  was  written  by  its  author  for  the 
dedication  of  a  Unitarian  house  of  worship  in  the  city 
of  New  York  in  1845. 

Mr.  Willis  was  born  at  Portland,  in  Maine,  in  1807, 
and  at  fifteen  entered  Yale  College.  His  first  work,  we 
believe,  was  "Scripture  Sketches,"  which  drew  him  into 
the  literary  circle,  since  which  he  has  written  little  of  a 


WILLIAM    WORDSWORTH.  '295 

religious  character.  He  has  been  the  poet  of  society, 
but  not  of  the  sanctuary.  His  writings  are  distinguished 
for  finish  and  melody.  Would  that  they  were  fine  gold 
which  would  pass  current  with  heaven  ! 

Perhaps  the  sweetest  thought  which  Mr.  Willis  ever 
penned  grew  out  of  a  reverence  of  his  pious  mother's 
prayers  for  him.  Tossed  by  the  waves  in  a  vessel  which 
was  bearing  him  homeward,  he  wrote, — 

"Sleep  safe,  0  wave-worn  mariner, 

Nor  fear  to-night  nor  storm  nor  sea : 
The  ear  of  Heaven  bends  low  to  her : 
He  comes  to  shore  who  sails  with  me." 


WILLIAM  WORDSWORTH. 

The  late  poet-laureate  of  England  has  contributed  one 
or  two  hymns  to  the  service  of  the  Christian  sanctuary, 
and  therefore  we  contribute  a  few  lines  to  him.  He 
was  born  in  1770,  and  educated  for  the  Church  of  England 
at  the  University  of  Cambridge.  Throughout  life  he 
employed  his  leisure  hours  in  writing  poetry, — though  he 
never  rose  very  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  public  till 
he  attained  gray  hairs,  when,  on  the  death  of  South ey, 
he  was  appointed  poet-laureate.  He  died  in  1850,  in 
his  eighty-first  year.  None  of  his  hymns  will  be  valued 
by  posterity. 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter  written  by  Words- 
worth to  one  of  his  correspondents  in  this  country  will 


296  AUTHORS    AND    ORIGIN    OF    HYMNS. 

be  read  with  interest  by  at  least  some  of  our  friends: — 
"  I  took  the  journey  to  London  solely  to  pay  my  respects 
to  the  queen  on  my  appointment  to  the  laureateship 
on  the  decease  of  my  friend  Mr.  Southey.  The  weather 
was  very  cold,  and  I  caught  an  inflammation  in  one  of  my 
eyes,  which  rendered  my  stay  in  the  South  very  uncom- 
fortable. I  nevertheless  did,  in  respect  to  the  object  of 
my  journey,  all  that  was  required.  The  reception  given 
me  by  the  queen  at  her  ball  was  most  gracious.  Mrs. 
Everett,  the  wife  of  your  minister,  among  many  others, 
was  a  witness  to  it,  without  knowing  who  I  was.  It 
moved  her  to  the  shedding  of  tears.  This  effect  was  in 
part  produced,  I  suppose,  by  American  habits  of  feeling, 
as  pertaining  to  a  republican  government.  To  see  a 
gray-haired  man  of  seventy-five  years  of  age  kneeling 
down  in  a  large  assembly  to  kiss  the  hand  of  a  young 
woman,  is  a  sight  for  which  institutions  essentially 
democratic  do  not  prepare  a  spectator  of  either  sex,  and 
must  naturally  place  the  opinions  upon  which  a  republic 
is  founded,  and  the  sentiments  which  support  it,  in  strong 
contrast  with  a  government  based  and  upheld  as  ours  is. 
I  am  not,  therefore,  surprised  that  Mrs.  Everett  was 
moved,  as  she  herself  described  to  persons  of  my  ac- 
quaintance,— among  others,  to  Mr.  Eogers  the  poet." 


FRANCIS    XAV1ER.  297 


FRANCIS  XAVIER. 

One,  at  least,  of  our  popular  hymn-books  contains 
the  hymn  of  this  extraordinary  Eoman  Catholic  mis- 
sionary,— 

"  Thou,  0  my  Jesus,  thou  didst  me 
Upon  the  Cross  embrace." 

This  "  apostle  of  the  Indies"  was  born  at  Navarre  in 
1506,  and  died,  when  about  to  land  in  China,  in  1552. 
Of  this  distinguished  missionary  it  has  been  well  said 
that,  weak  and  frail  as  he  was,  from  the  days  of  Paul  of 
Tarsus  to  our  own,  the  annals  of  mankind  exhibit  no 
other  example  of  a  soul  borne  upward  so  triumphantly 
through  distress  and  danger  in  all  their  most  appalling 
aspects.  He  battled  with  hunger,  and  thirst,  and  naked- 
ness, and  assassination,  and  pursued  his  message  of  love 
with  ever-increasing  ardor  amidst  the  wildest  war  of  the 
contending  elements.  When,  on  one  occasion,  reminded 
of  the  perils  to  which  he  was  about  to  expose  himself  by 
a  mission  to  the  barbarous  islands  of  the  Eastern  Archi- 
pelago, he  replied,  "  If  these  lands  had  scented  woods 
and  mines  of  gold,  Christians  would  find  courage  to  go 
there;  nor  would  all  the  perils  of  the  world  prevent  them. 
They  are  dastardly  and  alarmed  because  there  is  nothing 
to  be  gained  but  the  souls  of  men ;  and  shall  love  be 
less  hardy  and  less  generous  than  avarice?  They  will 
destroy  me,  you  say,  by  poison.  It  is  an  honor  to  which 
such  a  sinner  as  I  am  may  not  aspire;  but  this  I  dare 


2'J8  AUTHORS    AM)    ORK.l.N    OF    HYMNS. 

to  say  that,  whatever  form  of  torture  or  of  death  awaits 
me,  I  am  ready  to  suffer  it  ten  thousand  times  for  the 
salvation  of  a  single  soul."  Well  has  John  Angell  James 
said,  "This  is  a  sublime  heroism.  Wondrous  Xavier! 
whatever  were  thy  errors,  it  would  be  the  dregs  of 
bigotry  not  to  admire  thy  martyr-zeal." 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


INFLUENCE  OF  HYMNS 


PERSONAL  AND  SOCIAL  HAPPINESS. 


INFLUENCE  OF  HYMNS 


ON 


PERSONAL  AND  SOCIAL  HAPPINESS. 


A  University  Student. — A  highly-intelligent  young 
man  standing  at  his  father's  door  was  offered  by  a  gen- 
tleman a  slip  of  paper  on  which  was  printed  the  hymn 
written  by  John  Newton, — 

"Stop,  poor  sinner,  stop  and  think." 

This  hymn  he  read,  was  much  affected  by  it,  and  care- 
fully committed  it  to  memory.  Five  years  afterward, 
while  studying  at  Brown  University,  a  spirit  of  unusual 
attention  to  religion  was  awakened  in  that  institution,  and 
this  same  young  man  entered  a  meeting  for  devotional 
exercises  just  as  they  were  commencing  the  hymn, — 
"Stop,  popr  sinner,  stop  and  think." 

His  early  impressions  were  instantly  revived:  he  saw 

himself  ruined  by  sin,  that  eternal  woe  was  before  him, 

and  that  peace  of  conscience  and  with  God  could  only 

be  obtained  by'  the  blood  of  the  cross  of  Christ.     The 

Holy  Spirit  enabled  him  to  rest  his  soul  on  the  atoning 

26  301 


302  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

sacrifice  of  Christ;  and  this  young  man  became  an  emi- 
nently pious  and  active  physician. 

An  English  Actress. — The  fact  we  are  about  to 
relate  has  been  told  in  several  ways;  but  we  are  inclined 
to  think  that  the  version  given  in  the  "Sunday-School 
Journal"  is  the  correct  one.  The  hymn  referred  to  was 
from  the  pen  of  Charles  Wesley. 

An  actress  in  one  of  the  English  provincial  or  country 
theatres  was  one  day  passing  through  the  streets  of  the 
town  in  which  she  resided,  when  her  attention  was 
attracted  by  the  sound  of  voices  in  a  poor  cottage 
before  her.  Curiosity  prompted  her  to  look  in  at 
the  open  door, — when  she  saw  a  few  poor  people  sit- 
ting together,  one  of  whom,  at  the  moment  of  her  ob- 
servation; was  giving  out  the  hymn,  which  the  others 
joined  in  singing  : — 

"  Depth  of  mercy  !  can  there  be 
Mercy  still  reserved  for  me  ?" 

The  tune  was  sweet  and  simple;  but  she  heeded  it  not. 
The  wTords  had  riveted  her  attention,  and  she  stood 
motionless,  until  she  was  invited  to  enter  by  the  woman 
of  the  house,  who  had  observed  her  standing  at  the  door. 
She  remained  during  a  prayer  which  was  offered  up  by 
one  of  the  little  company;  and,  uncouth  as  the  expres- 
sions sounded,  perhaps,  to  her  ears,  they  carried  with 
them  a  conviction  of  sincerity  on  the  part  of  the  person 
engaged.      She    quitted    the    cottage ;    but    the   words 


PERSONAL    ANN    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  303 

of  the  hymn  followed  her,  and  at  last  she  resolved  to 
procure  the  book  which  contained  it.  She  did  so;  and 
the  more  she  read  it,  the  more  decided  her  serious  im- 
pressions became.  She  attended  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel,  read  her  hitherto  neglected  and  despised  Bible, 
and  bowed  herself  in  humility  and  contrition  of  heart 
before  Him  whose  mercy  she  now  felt  she  needed,  whose 
sacrifices  are  those  of  a  broken  heart  and  a  contrite 
spirit,  and  who  has  declared  that  with  such  sacrifices 
he  is  well  pleased. 

Her  profession  she  determined  at  once  to  renounce, 
and  for  some  time  excused  herself  from  appearing  on 
the  stage,  without,  however,  making  known  her  resolu- 
tion finally  to  leave  it. 

The  manager  of  the  theatre  called  upon  he?  one 
morning  and  requested  her  to  sustain  the  principal 
character  in  a  new  play  which  was  to  be  performed  the 
next  week.  She  had  frequently  performed  this  character 
to  general  admiration  j  but  she  now,  howTever,  told  him 
her  resolution  never  to  appear  as  an  actress  again,  at  the 
same  time  giving  her  reasons.  At  first  he  attempted  to 
overcome  her  scruples  by  ridicule;  but  this  was  unavail- 
ing :  he  then  represented  the  loss  he  would  incur  by  her 
refusal,  and  concluded  by  promising  that  if,  to  oblige 
him,  she  would  act  on  this  occasion,  it  would  be  the  last 
request  of  the  kind  he  would  ever  make.  Unable  to 
resist  his  solicitations,  she  promised  to  appear,  and  on 
the  appointed  evening  went  to  the  theatre.  The  character 
wrhich  she  assumed  required  her,  on  her  first  entrance, 


304  I  Ml. I   KNOT    of    HYMNS    ON 

to  sing  a  song;  and,  when  the  curtain  drew  up,  the 
Orchestra  immediately  began  the  accompaniment.  But 
she  stood  as  if  lost  in  thought,  and  as  one  forgetting  all 
around  her  and  her  own  situation.  The  music  ceased, 
but  she  did  not  sing;  and,  supposing  her  to  be  over- 
come by  embarrassment,  the  band  again  commenced. 
A  second  time  they  paused  for  her  to  begin;  and  still 
she  did  not  open  her  lips.  A  third  time  the  air  was 
played;  and  then,  with  clasped  hands  and  eyes  suffused 
with  tears,  she  sang, — not  the  words  of  the  song,  but, — 

"Depth  of  mercy  !  can  there  be 
Mercy  still  reserved  for  me  ?" 

It  is  almost  needless  to  add  that  the  performance 
was  suddenly  ended.  Many  ridiculed,  though  some  were 
induced  from  that  memorable  night  to  "consider  their 
ways,"  and  to  reflect  on  the  wonderful  power  of  the 
religion  which  could  influence  the  heart  and  change  the 
life  of  one  hitherto  so  vain  and  so  evidently  pursuing 
the  road  which  leadeth  to  destruction. 

It  will  be  satisfactory  to  the  reader  to  know  that  the 

change  in  Miss was  as  permanent  as  it  was  singular : 

she  walked  consistently  with  her  profession  of  religion 
for  many  years,  and  at  length  became  the  wife  of  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

An  Irish  Persecutor. — The  singing  of  the  "Wesleyan 
Methodists  has  often  been  shown  to  possess  great  influ- 
ence especially  in  the  early  history  of  that  body.  Charles 


ERSONAL   AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  305 

Wesley's  hymns,  with  simple  but  effective  tunes,  spread 
everywhere  among  the  societies;  and  hundreds  of  hearers 
who  cared  not  for  the  preaching  were  attracted  to 
their  assemblies  by  the  singing.  Especially  among  the 
Irish  did  it  secure  them  much  success.  At  Wexford  the 
society  was  persecuted  by  the  Catholics,  and  met  there- 
fore in  a  closed  barn.  One  violent  opposer  agreed  to 
conceal  himself  in  the  barn  before  the  worship  began, 
that  at  a  suitable  time  he  might  open  the  door  to  his 
comrades;  and  for  that  purpose  he  crept  into  a  sack  near 
the  door.  When  the  singing  commenced,  the  Hibernian 
was  so  impressed  with  the  music  that  he  thought  he  would 
hear  it  through  before  he  began  the  disturbance.  The 
singing  so  much  gratified  him  that  he  thought  he  would 
also  hear  the  prayer;  and  such  was  the  effect  of  the 
prayer  that  he  was  seized  with  remorse  and  trembling, 
so  that  he  roared  with  fright, — which  led  the  people  to 
remove  the  sack,  whereupon  the  Irishman  was  disclosed, 
praying  with  all  his  might  as  a  penitent.  Southey  says, 
"  This  is  the  most  comical  case  of  instantaneous  conver- 
sion that  ever  was  recorded ;  and  yet  the  man  is  said  to 
have  been  thoroughly  converted. n 

A  Young  Man. — The  narrative  we  now  give  is  from 
the  pen  of  the  Eev.  J.  Parker. 

In  the  village  of was  a  boarding-house  kept  by 

Mrs.  F ,  at  whose  house  I  was  a  lodger.    Of  the  fifteen 

or  twenty  guests  about  the  table  was  a  young  gentleman 

of  about  twenty-four  years  of  age.     He  was  full  of  ani 

26* 


306  INF1.I   IV   i;    01    IIV.MN.S    ON 

mation,  and  his  vivacity  created  the  impression  that, 
whoever  else  might  be  affected  by  the  solemnities  of  the 
time,  he  was  not. 

On  a  Sunday  morning  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Perrine 
preached  a  peculiarly  effective  sermon  on  the  conse- 
quences of  a  life  of  sin.  There  was  a  singular  unction 
and  tenderness  in  the  discourse,  and  its  vivid  pictures 
of  hell's  torments  produced  a  most  solemn  and  subduing 
effect. 

As  we  were  sitting  at  the  dinner-table,  and  remarks 
were  passing  freely  in  regard  to  the  morning  service,  the 
young  man  above  mentioned  expressed  in  strong  terms 
his  disapprobation  of  the  sermon,  and  added,  "  Such 
preaching  only  hardens  me  and  makes  me  worse."  I 
replied,  "  It  is  possible  that  you  think  it  makes  you 
worse,  when  it  only  makes  you  conscious  of  sin  that  was 
before  slumbering  in  your  heart."  "Ko,"  said  he:  "it 
hardens  me.  I  am  at  this  moment  less  susceptible  to  any 
thing  like  conviction  for  hearing  that  discourse.  I  feel 
more  inclined  to  resist  every  thing  like  good  impressions 
than  usual."  "Yet,"  I  rejoined,  "good  impressions  are 
those  which  are  best  adapted  to  secure  the  desired  end ; 
and  I  am  greatly  mistaken  if  an  increase  of  the  effect 
which  you  feel  would  not  be  greatly  useful  to  you.  If, 
for  instance,  you  should  read  now  AYatts's  version  of  the 
Fifty-First  Psalm,  beginning, — 

'Show  pity,  Lord;  0  Lord,  forgive,' 

it  would  take  a  deep  hold  on  your  heart." 


PERSONAL    AM'    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  307 

"Not  the  Least,"  said  he:  "I  could  read  it  without 
moving  a  muscle.  I  wish  I  had  the  book:  I  would  read 
it  to  you." 

"  We  have  one/'  said  Mrs.  F ,  who  was  fully  aware 

of  the  excitement  under  which  he  was  laboring;  and  the 
book  was  handed  him,  opened  at  the  place.  He  com- 
menced to  read;  with  compressed  lips  and  a  firm  voice : — 

"  Show  pity,  Lord;  0  Lord,  forgive; 
Let  a  repenting  sinner  live: 
Are  not  thy  mercies  large  and  free  ? 
May  not  a  sinner  trust  in  thee  ?" 

Toward  the  last  part  of  the  stanza  a  little  tremulous- 

ness  of  voice  was  plainly  discernible.     He  rallied  again, 

however,  and  commenced  the  second  verse  with  more 

firmness : — 

"Oh,  wash  my  soul  from  every  sin, 
And  make  my  guilty  conscience  clean : 
Here  on  my  heart  the  burden  lies, 
And  past  offences  pain  mine  eyes." 

At  the  last  part  of  this  stanza  his  voice  faltered  more 
manifestly.  He  commenced  upon  the  third  with  great 
energy,  and  read  in  a  loud,  sonorous  voice, — the  whole 
company  looking  on  in  breathless  silence  :— 

11  My  lips  with  shame  my  sins  confess." 

As  he  read  the  second  line, — 

"Against  thy  law,  against  thy  grace," 

his  lips  quivered,  and  his  utterance  became  difficult.    He 


INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

paused  a  little,  and  entered  upon  the  third  line  with  an 
apparently  new  determination  : — 

"Lord,  should  thy  judgment  grow  severe." 

Yet  before  he  came  to  the  end  his  voice  was  almost 
totally  choked;  and  when  he  began  upon  the  fourth 
line, — 

M  I  am  condemned,  but  thou  art  clear," 

an  aspect  of  utter  discouragement  marked  his  counte- 
nance, and  he  could  only  bring  out,  in  broken  sobs,  "  I 
am  condemned," — when  his  utterance  changed  to  such  a 
heart-broken  cry  of  grief,  rising  at  the  same  time  and 
rushing  from  the  room,  as  I  had  never  witnessed  in  a 
convicted  sinner. 

The  dinner  was  interrupted;  but  that  was  the  begin- 
ning of  a  change,  leading  on  to  a  new  life,  in  3Ir.  H.;  and 
probably  every  person  in  that  room  retained  the  im- 
pression that  a  view  of  the  awful  justice  of  God,  in  con- 
nection with  the  grace  that  saves  from  it,  is  often  effective 
in  subduing  those  who  say,  "  Prophesy  unto  us  smooth 
things,"  and  that  sinners  are  not  always  good  judges 
in  respect  to  what  produces  the  best  effect  upon  them- 
selves. 

An  Unhappy  Mother. — We  have  known  very  many 
instances  of  good  resulting  from  the  knowledge  of 
hymns  in  early  youth.  They  fasten  themselves  on  the 
memory    and    remain    there    through    life.      A    poor, 


PERSONAL   AND   SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  309 

wretched  female,  religiously  educated,  but  afterward 
abandoned  to  sin  and  misery,  was  struck  with  horror  at 
hearing  her  own  child  repeat,  as  soon  as  she  could  well 
speak,  some  of  tho  profane  language  which  she  had 
learned  from  herself.  She  trembled  at  the  thought  that 
she  was  not  only  herself  travelling  to  eternal  perdition, 
but  was  also  leading  her  child  there.  She  instantly  re- 
solved that  with  the  first  sixpence  she  could  procure 
she  would  obtain  a  copy  of  Dr.  Watts's  "  Divine  Songs 
for  Children/'  of  which  she  had  some  recollection  from 
the  days  when  she  visited  the  Sunday-school,  and  would 
teach  them  to  her  infant  daughter.  She  soon  bought 
them;  and  on  opening  the  book  her  eye  caught  the 
striking  verse, — 

"Just  as  the  tree  cut  down,  that  fell 
To  north  or  southward,  there  it  lies, 
So  man  departs  to  heaven  or  hell, 
Fixed  in  the  state  wherein  he  lies." 

She  read  on:  the  Spirit  of  God  impressed  the  words 
on  her  heart ;  the  event  led  to  her  entire  conversion, 
and  she  lived  and  died  a  consistent  professor  of  the  re- 
ligion of  Christ. 

An  English  Nobleman. — One  of  the  most  interesting 
anecdotes  illustrating  the  power  of  hymns  in  the  family- 
circle  we  have  ever  met  wTith  was  related  in  a  social 
circle  in  England  a  few  years  ago  by  a  clergyman  well 
acquainted  with  the  facts. 

Lord ,  a  nobleman  of  great  wealth,  was  a  man 


310  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

of  the  world :  his  pleasures  were  drawn  from  his  riches, 
his  honors,  and  his  friends.  His  daughter  was  the  idol 
of  his  heart.  Much  had  been  expended  in  her  educa- 
tion; and  well  did  she  repay,  in  her  intellectual  endow- 
ments, the  solicitude  of  her  parents.  She  was  highly 
accomplished,  amiable  in  her  disposition,  and  winning 
in  her  manners ;  but,  alas !  the  whole  family  wrere 
strangers  to  God.  By  a  series  of  remarkable  circum- 
stances, the   Hon.  Miss. was  led  within  the  walls 

of  a  Methodist  church  in  London  and  converted  to  the 
Lord  Jesus.  Henceforth  she  delighted  in  the  service 
of  the  sanctuary  and  in  social  religious  meetings.  To 
her  the  charms  of  Christianity  were  overpowering,  and 
the  society  of  those  who  loved  Jesus  Christ  a  heaven 
upon  earth. 

The  change  was  seen  by  her  devoted  father  with  deep 
solicitude.  To  see  his  lovely  daughter  thus  infatuated 
was  to  him  the  occasion  of  intense  grief;  and  he  resolved 
to  correct  her  erroneous  views  on  the  real  pleasures  and 
pursuits  of  life.  He  placed  at  her  disposal  large  sums 
of  money,  hoping  she  would  be  induced  to  pursue  the 
fashions  and  extravagance  of  others  in  her  own  rank  of 
life,  and  to  forsake  the  Methodist  meetings;  but  she 
maintained  her  integrity.  He  took  her  on  frequent  and 
long  journeys,  hoping  thus  to  divert  her  mind  from  re- 
ligion ;  but  she  still  delighted  in  the  Saviour.  After  failing 
in  all  his  other  projects,  he  determined  to  introduce  her 
into  company  under  circumstances  that  would  compel  her 
to  join  in  the  amusements  of  the  party  or  give  high  of- 


PERSONAL    A.\[>    .sociAL    IIAI'l'INKSN.  311 

fence.  It  was  arranged  that  on  a  festive  occasion  several 
young  ladies  should  each  accompany  a  performance  on 
the  piano-forte  with  a  song.  The  hour  arrived;  the 
party  assembled ;  several  had  delighted  all  with  their 
performances;  and  all  were  in  high  spirits.     The  Hon. 

Miss  was  called  on  for  her  song;  and  many  hearts 

beat  high  in  hope  of  victory.  The  crisis  was  come. 
Should  she  decline,  she  would  be  disgraced  as  insulting 
her  friends ;  and  should  she  comply,  their  triumph  would 
be  complete.  With  entire  self-possession,  she  took  her 
seat  at  the  instrument,  ran  her  fingers  over  its  keys,  and 
commenced  playing,  singing  in  a  sweet  air  the  words  of 
Charles  Wesley, — 

"  No  room  for  mirth  or  trifling  here, 
For  worldly  hope  or  worldly  fear, 

If  life  so  soon  is  gone, — 
If  now  the  Judge  is  at  the  door. 
And  all  mankind  must  stand  before 

The  inexorable  throne. 

"No  matter  which  my  thoughts  employ, 
A  moment's  misery  or  joy  ; 

But,  oh !  when  both  shall  end, 
Where  shall  I  find  my  destined  place? 
Shall  I  my  everlasting  days 

With  fiends  or  angels  spend  ?" 

She  rose  from  her  seat.     The  whole  party  wrere  sub- 
dued.    Not  a  word  was  spoken.     Her  father  wept  aloud. 

One  by  one  the  visitors  left  the  house.    Lord never 

rested  till  he  became  a  Christian.  He  lived  and  died 
consistently  with  his  profession  as  a  servant  of  Christ, 


313  INH.l  E.MK    UK    HYMNS    ON 

having,  during  his  union  with  the  people  of  God,  con- 
tributed to  the  cause  of  benevolence  half  a  million  of 
dollars. 

Since  writing  the  above,  we  have  met  with  a  very- 
similar  narrative   of  facts  in  connection  with  a  young 
lady  of   this   country,   converted  in  the  early  day 
Methodism,  under  the  labors  of  the   excellent  Bishop 
Asbury. 

An  Irish  Sunday-Scholar. — We  have  not  unfre- 
quently  heard  singers  eminent  for  "science,"  "taste," 
and  words  of  similar  import,  ridicule  a  certain  class 
of  hymns  and  tunes,  altogether  forgetting  that  these 
very  compositions  may  exert  on  other  minds  a  holy 
and  happy  influence.  Let  us  illustrate  what  we  mean 
by  a  condensed  narrative  from  the  pen  of  a  living 
clergyman.  He  says,  "  One  day,  as  I  was  busily  en- 
gaged in  my  study,  a  man  about  half  drunk  very  un- 
ceremoniously entered  and  handed  me  a  note  from 
the  teacher  of  the  infant  class  of  our  Sabbath-school, 
informing  me  that  the  bearer  was  the  father  of  one  of 
her  scholars,  that  the  child  had  met  with  an  accident, 
and  that  they  lived  in  such  a  place :  she  could  not  visit 
them,  and  she  wished  me  to  see  to  it. 

"  I  looked  at  the  man  :  he  was  Irish,  very  repulsive 
in  his  appearance,  and  he  answered  my  questions  with 
a  rough  brogue. 

"  <  What  is  your  name,  sir,  and  where  do  you  live  V 
"  '  My  name  is  Pater  M :  I  live  on  an  ould  canal- 


PERSONAL    A.Mi    SOCIAL    BAPPINES8.  318 

boat  at  the  Ait  of  Harrison  Street.     I  wint  tliere  whin 
J  was  burnt  out;  and  nobody  at  all  at  all  has  driv  me 

out  of  it.' 

"'And  what  Lfl  the  matter  with  your  child?' 

•'  'Och  !  and  is  it  Kitty,  my  own  little  darling  Kitty,  the 
only  child  I've  lift  of  the  six  that  has  been  born  til  me? 
Och !  Kitty!  she  was  playing  about  on  a  ship  where  I 
was  til  wark,  and  she  fell  down  the  hatchway  and  broke 
her  leg,  (saving  your  prisence,)  and  poor  Kitty's  leg  is 
not  set  right,  your  riverence,  for  I  have  no  money  til 
pay  a  docther.  Och !  poor  Kitty !  and  I've  nothing  to 
give  her  to  ate,  your  riverence.' 

" i  "Well,  Peter,  I  will  come  down  and  see  your  Kitty, 
and  see  what  can  be  done  for  you.' 

"  I  did  so,  and  found  a  wretched  state  of  things.  The 
poor  little  suffering  child  was  overjoyed  to  see  me.  I  re- 
membered her  countenance, — a  sweet,  mild  little  girl,  not 
yet  five  years  of  age.  She  lay  upon  the  '  locker'  or  side- 
seat  of  an  old  canal-boat  which  had  been  laid  up  for  the 
winter.  There  was  no  fire,  though  it  was  a  bitter-cold 
day, — no  chair,  no  bed,  no  food,  scarcely  an  article  of  fur- 
niture or  any  comfort  whatever.  I  did  what  I  could  to 
relieve  the  wants  of  the  little  sufferer.  Nothing  could 
be  done  for  the  parents :  they  were  both  confirmed  in- 
ebriates; and  I  found  they  had  both  been  drunk  the  night 
previous,  and  in  a  quarrel  had  unintentionally  knocked 
the  child  off  the  seat  and  broken  the  limb  again  after  it 
had  been  set.  I  obtained  the  services  of  a  surgeon  and 
had  the  limb  set  again,  and  then  sat  down  on  the  locker 

27 


314  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    OS 

to  talk  to  little  Kitty,  and  fed  he*  with  some  nourishing 
food  which  I  had  brought.  I  asked  her  if  she  could 
read.  Xo,  she  could  not  read  a  word  ;  '  but  I  can  sing/ 
said  she.  '  What  can  you  sing?'  'Something  I  learned 
at  Sabbath-school/  'Well,  what  18  it  you  can  - 
Kitty  V     In  a  moment  her  sweet  little  voice  broke  out, — 

'  There  is  a  happy  land, 

Far,  far  away, 
Where  saints  in  glory  stand, 
Bright,  bright  as  day.' 

"  '  "Well,  Kitty,  that  is  sweet.  Where  do  you  think  the 
land  of  Canaan  is,  Kitty  V  <  Oh,  I  suppose  it  is  up  in 
the  sky,  where  God  lives  and  where  the  angels  live/ 
'  Do  you  think  you  will  ever  go  there,  Kitty  V  '  If  I'm 
good  and  love  God,  I  think  I  shall.' 

"  i  Xow',  Kitty,  is  there  any  thing  els©  yott  can  sing  for 
me  before  I  go  V  '  Oh,  yes,  sir  :  I  can  sing  a  little  piece 
of  another/     *  Well,  what  is  that  Y 

•  All  who  love  the  Lord  below 
When  they  die,  to  heaven  will  go, 
And  sing  with  saints  above. 
Oh!  that  will  be  joyful! 
Joyful,  joyful ! 
Oh!  that  will  be  joyful, 
When  we  meet  to  part  no  more!' 

u  Poor  Kitty  could  not  read,  nor  could  either  of  her 
parents  read.  She  knew  nothing  about  heaven  and 
divine  things  except  what  she  had  been  taught  at  the 
Sabbath-school;  and  most  of  what  she  remembered  was 
associated  with  such  despised  words  and  sentiments  as 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  315 

Ave  have  quoted.  Eternity  alone  will  unfold  the  power 
of  such  simple  truth,  and  simple  yet  sweet  tunes,  upon 
Infant  minds." 

Governor  Hill. — "We  confess  to  a  love  of  hymn-sing- 
ing under  almost  all  circumstances.  The  family,  the 
social  circle,  nay,  in  many  instances  the  sick-bed  itself, 
may  profit  by  it.  But  we  have  a  beautiful  illustration 
now  before  us  of  the  advantages  of  singing  in  apparent 
solitude.  In  Governor  Hill's  account  of  his  stage-ride 
over  the  Alleghany"  Mountains,  in  a  dark  night,  shut  up 
with  strangers,  he  tells  us  that,  to  get  rid  of  the  fear 
of  robbers,  he  began  to  sing  one  of  Dr.  Watts's  hymns, 
certainly  supposing  that  as  a  Christian  he  was  alone. 
To  his  great  delight,  however,  another  pious  New  Eng- 
lander  responded  in  another  hymn ;  and  he  wTas  followed 
by  another,  who  broke  out  in  a  popular  camp-meeting 
air.  The  Governor  was  delighted  to  ascertain  that  three 
of  the  travellers  out  of  the  six  proved  to  be  KewT  Eng- 
land Puritans.  He  threw  his  fears  to  the  winds,  and  the 
morning  found  them  safe  beyond  the  dreaded  haunts  of 
the  highway-robbers. 

Campbell  the  Poet. — The  influence  which  devotional 
singing  sometimes  produces  on  others  may  be  inferred 
from  a  reminiscence  of  James  Grahame,  author  of  "  The 
Sabbatli,"  written  by  the  poet  Thomas  Campbell,  with 
whom  he  was  intimate  when  both  as  young  men  resided  in 
Edinburgh  : — "  One  of  the  most  endearing  circumstances 


316  ISFIA  ENCE   OF    HYMNS    ON 

which  I  remember  of  Grahame  was  his  singing.     I  shall 

in  ver  forget  one  summer  evening  that  we  agreed  to  sit 
lip  all  night  and  go  together  to  Arthur's  Seat  to  see  the 
sun  rise.  AVe  sat  accordingly  all  night  in  his  delightful 
parlor, — the  seat  of  so  many  hap])}-  remembrances.  We 
then  went  and  saw  a  beautiful  sunrise.  I  returned 
home  with  him,  for  I  was  living  in  his  house  at  the  time. 
He  was  unreserved  in  all  his  devoutest  feelings  before  me; 
and,  from  the  beauty  of  the  morning  scenery  and  the  re- 
cent death  of  his  sister,  our  conversation  took  a  serious 
turn  on  the  proofs  of  infinite  benevolence  in  the  creation 
and  the  goodness  of  God.  As  I  retired  to  my  own  bed, 
I  overheard  his  devotions, — not  his  prayer,  but  a  hymn 
which  he  sung,  and  with  a  power  and  inspiration  beyond 
himself  and  beyond  any  thing  else.  At  that  time  he 
was  a  strong-voiced  and  commanding-looking  man.  The 
remembrance  of  his  large,  expressive  features  when  he 
climbed  the  hill,  and  of  his  organ-like  voice  in  praising 
God,  is  yet  fresh  and  ever  pleasing  in  my  mind." 

A  Taunting  Lover. — A  young  gentleman,  tenderly 
attached  to  a  young  lady,  was  obliged  to  take  a  journey. 
During  his  absence  she  became  a  follower  of  Jesus.  He 
heard  of  the  change,  and  wrote  her  a  letter  full  of 
invectives  against  religion  and  its  gloomy  professors. 
Having  a  good  voice,  and  playing  well  on  the  piano- 
forte, she  had  been,  accustomed  to  entertain  him  with 
her  music,  especially  in  performing  one  song,  of  which  he 
was  very  fond,  the  burden  of  which  was,  "  Ah,  never  !  ah, 


PERSONAL    AND   SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  317 

no  !"  At  their  first  interview  after  his  return,  he  taunt- 
ingly said,  "  I  suppose  you  cannot  sing  me  a  song  now  Y* 
"Oh,  yes,"  was  her  reply,  "but  I  will;"  and,  proceeding 
to  her  piano,  she  sung  a  hymn  she  had  composed  to  his 
favorite  tune  : — 

"As  I  glad  bid  adieu  to  the  world's  fancied  pleasure, 
You  pity  my  weakness :  alas  !  did  you  know 
The  joys  of  religion,  that  best  hidden  treasure, 

Would  you  bid  me  resign  them  ?     Ah,  never  !   ah,  no  ! 

"You  will  surely  rejoice  when  I  say  I've  received 
The  only  true  pleasure  attained  below. 
I  know  by  experience  in  whom  I've  believed : 

Shall  I  give  up  this  treasure  ?     Ah,  never  !  ah,  no  ! 

11  In  the  gay  scenes  of  life  I  was  happiness  wooing; 
But  ah !  in  her  stead  I  encountered  a  woe, 
And  found  I  was  only  a  phantom  pursuing : 

Never  once  did  I  find  her.     Ah,  never  !   ah,  no  ! 

"  But  in  these  bright  paths  which  you  call  melancholy 

I've  found  those  delights  which  the  world  does  not  know. 
Oh,  did  you  partake  them,  you'd  then  see  your  folly, 
Nor  again  bid  me  fly  them  !     Ah,  never  !   ah,  no  !" 

It  pleased  God  that  by  hearing  these  lines  sung  his 
prejudices  were  shaken,  and  within  a  short  time  he  em- 
braced the  Christian  principles  he  had  hitherto  so 
strongly  opposed,  and  they  became,  as  the  reader  has 
perhaps  anticipated,  a  truly-happy  pair. 

A  Dying  Jewess. — A  colporteur  employed  not  long 
since  by  a  Bible  Society  in  London  was  offering  Bibles 
for  sale  in  that  metropolis,  when  he  was  told  that  if  any 
of   the  Jews  should   purchase  his  books,   and   become 

27  * 


:;1^  iMi.i  km  I.   Of    BYMNS   on 

Christians,  they  would  certainly  return  to  their  former 
belief,  "for,"  said  the  woman,  u  they  must  die  in  the 
faith  of  Abraham." 

To  this  he  replied,  u  It  certainly  is  not  always  so  j  for  I 
myself  have  seen  a  Jewess  die  who  did  not  forsake  her 
faith  in  the  Eedeemer.  I  was  at  that  time  a  city  mis- 
sionary, and  was  desired  to  call  upon  her  by  those  who 
well  knew  her  previous  history.  This  visit  happened  to 
take  place  on  the  day  of  her  death. 

"  She  had  been  brought  from  affluence  to  abject  poverty 
for  the  faith  of  Christ.  She  had  at  one  time  kept  her 
own  carriage.  One  day  she  cast  her  eye  on  the  leaf  of 
a  hymn-book  which  had  come  into  the  house  covering 
some  butter,  and  she  read  upon  it  these  words  : — 

1  Not  all  the  blood  of  beasts 
On  Jewish  altars  slain 
Could  give  the  guilty  conscience  peace 
Or  wash  away  the  stain.' 

a  The  verse  haunted  her.  She  could  not  dismiss  it 
nor  forget  it ;  and  after  a  time  she  went  to  a  box  where 
she  remembered  she  had  a  Bible,  and,  induced  by  that 
verse,  began  to  read,  and  read  on  till  she  found  Christ 
Jesus, '  the  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.' 

"  She  became  openly  a  convert  to  Christianity.  This 
caused  her  husband  to  divorce  her.  He  went  to  India, 
where  he  married  again  and  died.  She  lived  in  much 
poverty  with  two  of  her  nation,  Jewish  Bisters,  who 
had  also  become  Christians.  All  this  I  knew;  and  it  is 
now  four  years  since  T  stood  by  the  side  of  thai  death- 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  319 

bed.  She  did  not  renounce  her  faith  in  the  crucified 
Lord,  but  died  triumphing  in  him  as  her  Rock,  her 
Shield,  and  her  exceeding  great  Reward,  quoting  and 
applying  to  him  the  Psalms  of  David,  and  passing  with 
him,  without  a  fear,  through  the  dark  valley,  numbered 
among  the  Jews  who,  as  we  are  told  by  the  Apostle 
John,  '  went  away,  and  believed  on  Jesus.'  " 

A  Chimney-Sweep. — The  late  Rev.  Joseph  Slatterie, 
of  Chatham,  in  England,  whom  we  knew  many  years 
ago,  was  once  walking  in  that  town,  when  his  attention 
was  arrested  by  a  youthful  voice  singing, — 

"  The  sorrows  of  the  mind 

Be  banished  from  this  place : 
Religion  never  was  designed 
To  make  our  pleasures  less." 

Pleased  alike  with  the  sweetness  of  the  voice  and 
the  cheerful  tones  in  which  the  verse  was  sung,  our 
friend  looked  around  to  see  whence  the  singing  pro- 
ceeded; but  for  some  time  he  looked  in  vain.  At 
length  he  saw  a  little  sweep  with  his  head  popping  out 
of  a  chimney  and  waving  with  a  sort  of  triumph  his 
brush  over  his  head.  "  Oh/'  said  the  venerable  minister 
to  us,  "  it  made  me  weep  in  gratitude  to  think  how  sing- 
ing the  praises  of  God  contributes  to  make  even  a  poor 
chimney-sweep  happy." 

A  Suffering  jMother. — Hymns  have  often  adminis- 
tered comfort  in  the  severest  trials.  A  lad}'  who  was 
called  to  endure  much  anxious  suffering  became  greatly 


320  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    OR 

perplexed  as  to  the  duty  which  devolved  upon  her,  and 

retired  to  her  room  to  consider  the  matters  which  caused 

her  agitation.  Being  sorely  grieved  in  spirit,  she  laid 
her  head  on  the  table  and  wept  bitterly.  So  intense 
was  her  grief  that  she  scarcely  perceived  her  little 
daughter,  who  quietly  sat  in  a  corner  of  the  room.  Un- 
able longer  to  bear  the  sight  of  her  mother's  distress,  this 
sweet  girl  stole  softly  to  her  side,  and,  taking  her  hand 
in  both  of  her  own,  she  said,  "  Mamma,  you  once  taught 
me  a  pretty  hymn  : — 

1  If  e'er  you  meet  with  trials 

Or  troubles  on  the  way, 
Then  cast  your  care  on  Jesus, 
And  don't  forget  to  pray.'  " 

The  counsel  of  the  little  monitor  was  taken,  and  relief 
came.  The  mother  was  repaid  for  rightly  training  her 
child  by  receiving  from  her  in  happy  season  the  lesson 
she  had  herself  given. 

Robert  Hall. — The  distinguished  Eobert  Hall,  who 
was  remarkable  for  his  attachment  to  congregational 
singing,  gives  us  an  anecdote  which  the  reader  will  be 
glad  to  see  in  his  own  words  : — "  I  once  heard  a  blunder- 
ing, roaring  preacher  at  Margate,  who  had  all  the  rough- 
ness of  the  wind  without  any  of  its  power;  and,  after 
being  tortured  for  a  whole  hour,  I  was  fully  compen- 
sated by  the  delight  I  enjoyed  at  the  close  of  the 
moii.  An  old  man,  whose  gray  locks  were  hanging 
profusely  on  his  shoulders,  and  whose  countenance  ex- 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  -'5-1 

pressed  much  simplicity  and  piety,  gave  out  with  great 
feeling,  in  the  recitative  style, — 

•Lei  the  old  heathen  tune  their  song 
Of  great  Diana  and  of  Jove; 
I > 1 1 1  the  sweet  theme  that  moves  my  song 
Is  my  Redeemer  and  his  love.' 

"  This  so  charmed  me  that  I  could  at  any  time  endure 
to  hear  such  a  preacher  if  I  were  sure  it  would  be  fol- 
lowed with  such  a  delightful  after-piece." 

A  Vermont   Clergyman. — Mr.   Gould   mentions    the 

influence  of  singing  on  the  mind  of  a  minister  in  Ver- 
ts     o 

mont.  He  was  a  stranger  called  to  officiate  for  a  Sabbath 
in  a  cold  and  dreary  church.  When  he  entered  it,  the 
wind  howled,  and  loose  clapboards  and  windows  clat- 
tered. The  pulpit  stood  high  above  the  first  floor:  there 
was  no  stove,  but  a  few  persons  in  the  church,  and 
those  few  beating  their  hands  and  feet  to  keep  them 
from  freezing.  He  asked  himself,  "  Can  I  preach  ?  Of 
what  use  can  it  be  ?  "What  shall  I  do  ?  Can  these  two  or 
three  singers  in  the  gallery  sing  the  words  if  I  read  a 
hymn?     I  concluded  to  make  a  trial,  and  read, — 

'Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul.' 

"They  commenced;  and  the  sound  of  a  single  female 
voice  has  followed  me  with  an  indescribable  pleasing 
sensation  ever  since,  and  probably  will  while  I  live.  The 
voice,  intonation,  articulation,  and  expression  seemed  to 
me  perfect.    I  was  warmed  inside  and  out,  and  for  the  time 


322  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

was  lust  in  rapture.  I  had  heard  of  the  individual  and 
voice  before;  but  hearing  it  in  this  dreary  situation 
made  it  doubly  grateful.  Never  did  I  preach  with  more 
satisfaction  to  myself.  And  from  this  incident  I  learned 
a  lesson, — never  to  be  discouraged  from  unfavorable  ap- 
pearances, but,  where  duty  calls,  go  to  work  cheerfully, 
without  wavering." 

A  Sick  Child. — Why  cannot  the  whole  of  our  families 
imitate  the  members  of  the  Moravian  Church,  who  all 
sing?  We  are  sure  that  when  religion  flourishes  as  it 
should  do  this  will  be  the  case.  Nor  have  we  any  special 
objection  that  singing,  especially  in  the  social  circle, 
should  be  accompanied  with  an  instrument.  We  have 
long  thought  that  a  sufficient  knowledge  of  music  for 
family  devotion  should  form  a  part  of  every  child's  edu- 
cation,— whether  boy  or  girl.  Half  the  time  and  labor 
often  spent  in  teaching  a  girl  to  play  a  number  of  tunes 
with  only  tolerable  skill  on  the  piano  would  teach  her 
to  perform  a  smaller  number  exceedingly  well  on  the 
melodeon,  and  add  much  refinement  and  delight  to  her 
family  and  friends.  All  this  will  at  once  appear  evident 
to  a  mind  disposed  to  reflect  on  the  subject. 

We  have  before  us  an  interesting  account  of  a  little 
girl,  seven  years  old,  who  was  recovering  from  siek- 
ness;  and  as  her  strength  increased  she  inquired, 
"Father,  won't  you  attend  family  worship  up  here'.''* 
The  request  could  not  be  denied.  "  Won't  you  sing, — 
■  fee,  my  native  land,  I  love  thee '?  " 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  323 

It  was  indeed  beautiful  bo  Bee  the  feeble  child,  as  slio 
Bat  in  her  bed  supported  by  pillows,  with  her  little 
hymn-book  before  her,  exerting  her  almost  exhausted 
powers  in  singing  all  the  verses  of  a  hymn  which  im- 
plies entire  consecration  to  the  missionary  work. 

An  Aged  Lady. — An  old  lady  of  nearly  fourscore 
years  writes  in  reference  to  "Dr.  Watts's  Divine  and 
Moral  Songs  for  Children'  as  follows;  and  we  can  endorse 
almost  every  word  of  her  testimony  from  our  own  ex- 
perience : — 

"  Now,  when  arrived  to  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years, 
I  may  with  truth  say  that  I  would  not  relinquish  for 
any  pecuniary  consideration  the  usefulness  and  comfort 
of  my  recollection  of  '  Watts's  Divine  Songs.'  When  I 
cannot  sleep  in  the  night,  I  often  repeat  all  I  can  recol- 
lect at  the  time, — not  orally,  but  in  my  thoughts.  If 
every  mother  in  our  land  would  teach  her  children  these 
beautiful  hymns,  we  should  see  a  train  of  blessings  on 
the  Church  and  our  country.  My  excellent  mother 
taught  them  to  me  when  a  child;  and  I  taught  them  to 
my  children.  And  I  have  the  comfort  of  seeing  my 
children  teaching  them  to  their  children. " 

A  Young  Man  in  Virginia. — A  fine,  intelligent  Vir- 
ginian young  man,  while  residing  in  the  West,  became 
an  infidel  and  a  blasphemer  of  the  name  of  God.  From 
this  state  he  was  delivered  by  reading  the  work  of 
Soame  Jenyns;   but,  while  he  acquiesced  in  the  truth  of 


.*;_'!  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNfi   ON 

revelation,  he  yet  did  not  feel  its  power,  lie  was 
attacked   by  a  Lingering  and   fatal   disease,   which  led 

him  to  reflection  and  prayer  but  often  made  it  difficult 
for  him  to  converse.  Three  Christian  friends  sometimes 
visited  him,  to  beguile  the  tedious  hours  by  singing. 
They  one  day  entered  his  room,  and,  almost  without  any 
previous  remarks,  began  the  hymn, — 

"  There  is  a  fountain,  filled  with  blood," 
and  then, — 

"  The  voice  of  free  grace  cries,  Escape  to  the  mountain." 

He  then  said  to  them,  "  There  is  nothing  I  so  much  de- 
light to  hear  as  the  first  hymn  you  ever  sung  to  me : — 

1  Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul.'  " 

We  began  to  sing  it  to  the  tune  Martyn,  and  found  the 
solemnity  which  had  reigned  in  the  little  circle  while 
singing  the  two  former  hymns  began  to  be  changed  to 
weeping.  We  struck  the  touching  strains  of  the  second 
stanza,  and  the  weeping  became  loud :  the  heart  of  him 
who  had  reviled  Christ  broke;  and  we  feared  that  to 
sing  the  remaining  stanza  would  be  more  than  he  could 
bear.  When  singing  in  his  room  a  few  days  after  this, 
he  said,  "  I  don't  think  I  shall  ever  hear  '  Jesus,  lover 
of  my  soul'  sung  again:  it  so  excites  me  that  my  poor 
body  cannot  bear  it." 

A  Dying  Pastor. — How  delightfully  useful  very  often 
are  hymns  on  a  dying  bed !    Once,  visiting  a  dying  pastor, 


PERSONAL    .WD    BOOIAL    II.\  l'PJNESS.  325 

be  said  to  as,   "  1   have  often  wondered  why  when  I 

visited  many  of  my  people  in  their  last  hours  I  found 
them  so  constantly  using  hymns  as  expressing  their 
feelings,  and  sometimes  half  smiled  that  so  many  of 
them  used  the  very  same  hymns;  but  I  understand  it 
all  now.  The  people  of  Jesus  think  and  feel  alike  as 
they  get  near  to  his  throne;  and  the  smoothness  of  a 
hymn  conveys  the  idea  they  need  without  the  effort  of 
thinking.  How  sweet  to  me  now  is  the  ten-thousandth- 
time-repeated  verse, — 

'Jesus  can  make  a  dying  bed 
Feel  soft  as  downy  pillows  are, 
While  on  his  breast  I  lean  my  head 

And  breathe  my  life  out  sweetly  there' !" 

Mr.  Pearson  has  very  truly  said  that  as  the  mental 
powers  grow  feeble  there  would  seem  to  be  a  soothing 
and  consoling  influence  in  devotional  poetry  which 
speaks  peace  to  the  soul  of  the  departing  Christian. 
How  often  do  we  find  the  learned  scholar,  the  profound 
theologian,  or  the  keen  controversialist,  seeking  spiritual 
comforts  in  his  last  hours  from  simple  hymns  !  Such 
was  Prudentius,  the  advocate,  soldier,  and  courtier 
of  the  fourth  century,  who,  as  Izaak  AYalton  relates, 
"not  many  days  before  his  death  charged  his  soul  to 
present  to  his  God  each  morning  and  evening  a  new  and 
spiritual  song/'  Such  were  the  accomplished  Walter 
Ealeigh,  the  scholar  and  diplomatist  Wootton,  Dr.  Donne, 
George   Herbert,   and   the   erratic    but    pious    Edward 

28 


326  INFLUENCE    OF    IIY.MNs    OB 

Irving,  who  died  while  singing  the  Hebrew  of  the 
Twenty-Third  Psalm.  Southey  has  truly  said  of  the 
hymns  of  the  Wesleys,  "Perhaps  no  poems  have  ever 
been  so  devoutly  committed  to  memory,  or  quoted  so 
often  on  a  death-bed." 

A  Military  Officer. — A  few  years  ago  an  interesting 
incident  occurred  at  the  funeral  of  a  pious  military 
officer  at  Montreal.  Several  officers  and  other  Christian 
friends  were  sitting  round  a  fire  singing  to  an  old  minor 
tune  the  hymn, — 

"  Not  all  the  blood  of  beasts," 

when  Captain  L said  to  his  friend  Captain  Hammond, 

"  I  have  a  curious  fancy  concerning  that  hymn.  I  should 
like  it  sung  by  six  young  men  as  they  lower  me  into  the 

grave."    But  a  short  time  elapsed  before  Captain  L 

was  removed  from  earth;  and  his  request  was  carried 
into  execution.  We  can  scarcely  imagine  any  thing  more 
impressive  than  such  a  scene  in  the  presence  of  his 
military  friends  at  such  a  time  and  under  such  circum- 
stances. A  short  time  afterwards  Captain  Hammond 
followed  his  friend  to  the  world  of  spirits. 

The  Blind  Psalmist. — We  do  not  dread  giving  offence 
to  our  readers  by  here  quoting  some  beautiful  lines  from 
the  pen  of  Mrs.  E.  C.  Kinney,  written  on  hearing  a  blind 
clergyman,  aged  eighty-six,  sing  hymns,  accompanying 
himself  on  the  bass-viol : — 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    ITAPPINKSS.  32' 

•  He  sang  the  aira  of  olden  times 
In  soft,  low  tones,  to  sacred  rhymes, 
Devotional  but  quaint ; 

His  lingers  touched  the  viol's  strings, 
And,  at  their  gentle  vibratings, 
The  glory  of  an  angel's  wings 
Hung  o'er  that  aged  saint. 

1  His  thin,  white  locks,  like  silver  threads 
On  which  the  sun  its  radiance  sheds, — 

Or  like  the  moonlit  snow, — 
Seemed  with  a  lustre  half  divine 
Around  his  saintly  brow  to  shine, 
Till  every  scar  or  time-worn  line 

Was  gilded  with  its  glow. 

'  His  sightless  eyes  to  heaven  upraised, 
As  through  the  spirit's  lens  he  gazed 

On  things  invisible, 
Reflecting  some  celestial  light, 
Were  like  a  tranquil  lake  at  night 
On  which  two  mirrored  planets  bright 
The  concave's  glory  tell. 

1  Thus,  while  the  patriarchal  saint 
Devoutly  sang  to  music  quaint, 

I  saw  old  Homer  rise, 
With  buried  centuries,  from  the  dead, 
The  laurel  green  upon  his  head, 
As  when  the  choir  of  bards  he  led 
With  rapt,  but  blinded,  eyes. 

'  And  Scio's  isle  again  looked  green 
As  when  the  poet  there  was  seen 

And  Greece  was  in  her  prime  ; 
While  Poesy  with  epic  fire 
Did  once  again  the  bard  inspire, 
As  when  he  swept  his  mighty  lyre 

To  vibrate  through  all  time. 

'  The  vision  changed  to  Albion's  shore : 
I  saw  a  sightless  bard  once  more 


328  I.MUK.VCE    OF    HYMNS    OR 

From  dust  of  ages  rise : 
I  heard  the  harp  and  deathless  song 
Of  glorious  Milton  float  along, 
Like  warblings  from  the  birds  that  throng 

His  muse's  paradise. 

11  And  is  it  thus  when  blindness  brings 
A  veil  before  all  outer  things, 

That  visual  spirits  see 
A  world  within,  than  this  more  bright, 
Feopled  with  living  forms  of  light, 
And  strewed  with  gems,  as  stars  of  night 

Strew  diamonds  o'er  the  sea  ? 

"  Then,  reverend  saint,  though  old  and  blind, 
Thou  with  the  quenchless  orbs  of  mind 

Canst  natural  sight  o'erreach, — 
Upborne  on  Faith's  triumphant  wings, 
Canst  see  unutterable  things, 
Which  only  through  thy  viol's  strings 

And  in  thy  songs  find  speech." 

Two  Sisters  in  New  York  State. — To  the  compara- 
tively few  persons  among  our  readers  who  knew  the 
truly-excellent  Rev.  Dr.  Nettleton,  it  will  be  pleasant  to 
be  reminded  of  him.  During  one  of  his  tours  which 
were  so  remarkably  blessed  to  the  salvation  of  men,  he 
stopped  at  a  house  in  the  region  of  the  Catskill  Alount- 
ains.  While  conversing  with  the  older  members  of  the 
family,  he  heard  two  young,  sweet,  and  clear  voices  in  a 
room  above  warbling  the  exquisitely-beautiful  air  of 
"Bonnie  Boon"  "Ask  them/'  said  he  to  their  parents, 
"  to  come  down  and  sing  it  to  me ;  for  I  am  ardently  de- 
voted to  music."  The  request  was  complied  with,  and 
he  listened  with  delighted  attention  till  the  close  of  the 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  329 

song,  when,  kindly  turning  to  the  young  ladies,  he  said, 
"I  think  I  can  teach  you  some  far  better  words  to  that 
tune,"  and  then  sang  to  them  that  almost  matchless 
hymn  — 

"  When  marshalled  on  the  mighty  plain," 

and  proceeded  so  touchingly  and  tenderly  to  call  their 
attention  to  the  beauty  of  its  sentiments,  that  tears  soon 
flowed  from  their  eyes ;  and  these  two  young  girls  were 
among  the  first  subjects  of  a  revival  which  was  the 
blessed  fruit  of  his  labors. 

The  Young  Captive  and  her  Mother. — The  following 
narrative  of  facts,  which  will  show  how  a  hymn  may  be 
useful  in  a  very  unexpected  manner,  was  written  by 
Pastor  Rone,  formerly  of  Elsinore  : — 

Many  years  ago,  several  German  families  came  over 
and  settled  in  this  country,  among  whom  was  a  man 
from  Wurte  in  berg,  who  with  his  wife  and  a  large  family 
established  himself  in  Pennsylvania.  There  were  no 
churches  or  schools  in  the  neighborhood,  and  he  was 
compelled  to  keep  the  Sabbath  at  home  with  his  family, 
instructing  them  himself  to  read  the  Bible,  and  praying 
to  God.  He  used  very  often  to  read  the  Scriptures  to 
them,  and  always  used  first  to  say,  "  Now,  my  children, 
be  still,  and  listen  to  what  I  am  going  to  read  j  for  it  is 
God  who  speaks  to  us  in  this  book." 

In  the  year  1754  a  dreadful  war  broke  out  in  Canada 
between  the  French  and  the  English.     The  Indians  took 


INFI.l  "KM  M    <»F    hymns    OH 

part  with  the  French,  and  made  excursions  a<  far  M 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  plundered  and  burned  the 
houses  they  came  to  and  murdered  the  people.  In 
1755  they  reached  the  dwelling  of  the  poor  family  from 
Wurtembergj  while  the  wife  and  one  of  the  eons  were 
gone  to  a  mill  four  miles  distant  to  get  some  corn 
ground.  The  husband,  eldest  BOn,  and  two  little  girls, 
named  Barbara  and  Regina,  were  at  home.  The  father 
and  his  son  were  instantly  killed  by  the  savages;  but 
they  carried  the  two  little  girls  away  into  captivity, 
with  a  great  many  other  children  who  had  been  taken  in 
the  same  manner.  They  were  led  many  miles  through 
woods  and  thorny  bushes,  that  nobody  might  follow 
them.  In  this  condition  they  were  brought  to  the  habi- 
tations of  the  Indians,  who  divided  among  themselves 
all  the  children  whom  they  had  taken  captive. 

Barbara  was  at  this  time  ten  years  old  and  Regina 
nine.  It  was  never  known  what  became  of  Barbara  ; 
but  Regina  and  a  little  girl  two  years  old,  whom  she 
had  never  seen  before,  were  given  to  an  old  widow,  who 
treated  them  very  cruelly.  Her  only  son  lived  with 
her  and  maintained  her-  but  he  was  sometimes  from 
home  for  weeks  together,  and  then  these  poor  children 
were  forced  to  go  into  the  forest  to  gather  roots  and 
other  provisions  for  the  old  woman  ;  and  when  they  did 
not  bring  her  enough  to  eat  she  would  beat  them  in  so 
cruel  a  manner  that  they  were  nearly  killed.  The  little 
girl  always  kept  close  to  Regina;  and,  when  she  knelt 
down  under  a  tree  and  repeated  the  prayers  to  the  Lord 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  331 

Jesus  and  the  hymns  which  her  father  had  taught  her, 
the  little  girl  prayed  with  her  and  learned  the  hymns 
and  prayers  ly  heart.  In  this  melancholy  state  these 
children  remained  nine  long  years,  till  Eegina  reached 
the  age  of  nineteen  and  her  little  companion  was  eleven 
years  old.  While  captives,  their  hearts  seem  to  have  been 
drawn  toward  what  was  good.  Eegina  continually  re- 
peated the  verses  from  the  Bible  and  the  hymns  which 
she  had  learned  at  home,  and  taught  them  to  the 
little  girl.  They  often  cheered  each  other  with  one 
hymn  from  the  hymn-book  used  at  Halle,  in  Ger- 
many : — 

"  Alone,  yet  not  alone,  am  I, 

Though  in  this  solitude  so  drear." 

They  constantly  hoped  that  the  Lord  Jesus  would 
some  time  bring  them  back  to  their  Christian  friends. 

In  1764  the  hope  of  these  children  was  realized.  The 
merciful  providence  of  God  brought  the  English  Colonel 
Boquet  to  the  place  where  they  were  in  captivity.  He 
conquered  the  Indians  and  forced  them  to  ask  for  peace. 
The  first  condition  he  made  was  that  they  should  restore 
all  the  prisoners  they  had  taken.  Thus  the  two  poor 
girls  were  released.  More  than  four  hundred  captives 
were  brought  to  Colonel  Boquet.  It  was  an  affecting 
sight  to  see  so  many  young  people  wretched  and  dis- 
tressed. The  colonel  and  his  soldiers  gave  them  food 
and  clothing,  took  them  to  Carlisle,  and  published  in  the 
newspapers  that  all  parents  who  had  lost  their  children 
might  come  and  seek  them,  and  they  should  be  restored. 


332  INFLUENCE    Of    BTMNfi    «.\ 

Among  other  bereaved  parents,  poor  Eegina's  mother 
came;  but,  alas!  her  child  had  become  a  stranger  to 
her.  Eegina  had  acquired  the  appearance  and  manners 
of  the  natives,  and  by  no  means  could  the  mother  dis- 
cover her  daughter.  Seeing  her  weep  in  bitter  disap- 
pointment, the  colonel  asked  her  if  she  could  recollect 
nothing  by  which  her  poor  girl  could  be  known.  She 
at  length  thought  of,  and  began  to  sing,  the  hymn, — 

'•Alone,  yet  not  alone,  am  I, 

Though  in  this  solitude  so  drear : 
I  feel  my  Saviour  always  nigh, — 

He  comes  the  weary  hours  to  cheer. 
I  am  with  him,  and  he  with  me  ; 
Even  here  alone  I  cannot  be." 

Scarcely  had  the  mother  sung  two  lines  of  it  when 
Eegina  rushed  from  the  crowd,  began  to  sing  it  also, 
and  threw  herself  into  her  mother's  arms.  They  both 
wept  for  joy;  and  with  her  young  companion,  whose 
friends  had  not  sought  her,  she  went  to  her  mother's 
house.  Happily  for  herself,  though  Eegina  had  not  seen 
a  book  for  nine  years,  she  at  once  remembered  how  to 
read  the  Bible. 

A  Family  in  Louisiana. — The  late  Eev.  James  Haxley, 
about  the  year  1806,  was  sent  by  a  Methodist  Conference 
to  itinerate  as  a  missionary  in  Louisiana,  then  chiefly 
inhabited  by  French  Catholics.  Jimmy,  as  he  was 
familiarly  called,  had  small  expectation  of  comfort  with- 
out payment ;  and  he  seldom  possessed  any  money.     He 


PERSONAL   AND   SOCIAL   HAPPINESS.  333 

was  one  evening  reduced  to  the  very  verge  of  starvation  : 
he  had  spent  the  preceding  night  in  a  swamp,  and  had 
taken  no  food  for  thirty-Mx  hours, — when  he  reached  a 
plantation.  He  entered  the  house  and  asked  for  food 
and  lodging.  The  mistress  of  the  house,  a  widow,  with 
several  daughters,  and  several  negro  children  playing 
about,  recognised  his  calling,  and  insultingly  refused  his 
request.  He  obtained,  however,  permission  to  warm 
himself  for  a  few  minutes  before  the  fire.  As  he  sat 
thus,  he  felt  the  demands  of  hunger  and  sleep,  and 
looked  forward  to  another  night  in  the  swamp.  Feel- 
ing this  might  prove  his  last  night  on  earth,  he  thought 
sweetly  of  the  celestial  city  to  which  he  felt  he  was 
travelling;  his  heart  swelled  with  gladness,  and  he 
cheerfully  sung  one  of  his  favorite  hymns : — 

"Peace,  my  soul!  thou  needst  not  fear: 
The  Great  Provider  still  is  near." 

He  sang  the  whole  hymn  •  and  when  he  looked  around 
him  the  mother,  daughters,  and  negroes  were  all  in  tears. 
"Here,  Sally/'  said  the  mother;  "get  the  preacher  a 
good  supper.  Peter,  put  up  his  horse :  he  shall  stay  a 
week,  if  he  pleases."     Has  hymn-singing  no  influence  ? 

The  Brothers  and  Sister. — More  than  thirty  years 
ago,  a  pious  young  lady  in  ill  health  was  resting  on  her 
couch,  and  by  her  side  sat  a  beloved  brother,  himself 
scarcely  well,  and  utterly  without  a  feeling  of  love  to 
God      His  sister,  as  descriptive  of  the  emotions  of  her 


334  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

soul,  repeated  to  him,  with  remarkable  emphasis,  the 
lines, — 

"Oh,  what  hath  Jesus  bought  for  me  ! 

Before  my  ravished  eyes 
Rivers  of  life  divine  I  see 

And  trees  of  paradise  ! 
I  see  a  world  of  spirits  bright, 

Who  taste  the  pleasures  there  : 
They  are  all  robed  in  spotless  white, 

And  conquering  palms  they  bear." 

Scarcely  had  she  uttered  these  words  before  he  began  to 
think  seriously  on  the  state  of  his  soul,  and  asked  him- 
self, "  Has  he  bought  nothing  for  me  V9  His  dear  sister 
had  soon  the  happiness  of  having  him  as  a  companion 
in  her  Christian  course;  and  both  brother  and  sister, 
with  another  brother,  not  long  after  departed  for  mis- 
sionary fields  in  the  island  of  Ceylon. 

Two  Young  Women. — When  the  late  Eev.  Sylvester 
Hutchinson  was  stationed  on  Salem  Circuit,  Xew  Jersey, 
his  first  station,  and  while  he  was  yet  a  boy,  he  was 
sitting  in  his  temporary  boarding-house  waiting  for  the 
hour  of  preaching,  when  two  young  women  came  in  to 
have  some  sport  with  the  boy-preacher.  They  began  to 
ridicule  his  size  and  his  insignificant  appearance,  when, 
suddenly  lifting  up  his  head  from  a  reclining  posture,  he 
repeated,  in  slow  and  solemn  tones, — 

"  My  thoughts  on  awful  subjects  roll, — 
Damnation  and  the  dead. 
What  horrors  seize  the  guilty  soul 
Upon  a  dying  bed  '." 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    1 1 A  IMM  N  ESS.  339 

I  Lis    voice1,    his   countenance,  bis    manner,  were   all 
adapted  to  make  them  feel  thai 

"'Tis  not  the  whole  of  life  to  live, 
Nor  all  of  death  to  die." 

The  words  of  the  preacher  were  "like  nails  fastened 
in  a  sure  place  by  the  Master  of  assemblies."  Tears 
rolled  down  their  cheeks :  they  left  the  room,  and  rested 
not  till  they  found  a  refuge  in  the  Son  of  God.  Not 
long  after,  they  each  said  to  the  Church,  "  Thy  people 
shall  be  my  people,  and  thy  God  my  God." 

Quarrelsome  Neighbors. — Three  men  became  hope- 
fully pious  about  the  same  time.  They  were  neighbors, 
heads  of  families,  and  singers.  For  a  season  they  lived 
in  love  and  exhibited  in  their  lives  the  graces  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  During  this  period  they  often  united  in 
sweetly  singing  the  praises  of  God.  But,  as  one  of  them 
was  once  passing  the  house  of  another,  he  heard  loud 
words  and  found  his  friends  in  angry  dispute.  He  went 
into  the  house,  and  began  by  saying,  "  Come,  neighbors, 
let  us  sing  one  of  our  favorite  hymns  : — 

'How  pleasant  'tis  to  see 
Kindred  and  friends  agree  !'  " 

They  became  silent,  looked  first  at  him  and  then  at 
each  other,  and  then  one  joined  the  singing.  The  other 
very  soon  followed  his  example,  and  the  three  neighbors 
sang  harmoniously  together  as  usual,  till  all  their  angry 
passions  were  lulled  to  sleep.     They  parted  in  peace, 


886  INFLUENCE   OF   11VMNS   ON 

and  ever  afterward  lived  in  harmony.     In  this  instance, 
at  least,  a  hymn  was  better  than  an  exhortation. 

Klopstock  and  his  Wife. — Frederick  Klopstock,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eighty,  at  Hamburg,  in  1803,  in  the 
presence  of  fifty  thousand  people,  and  who  is  still  re- 
membered as  "the  .Milton  of  Germany/'  was  a  poet 
before  he  had  ever  scon  a  vci'se  written,  and  commenced 
his  ''Messiah"  knowing  nothing  of  his  subject  or  of  the 
style  in  which  it  was  written  but  what  he  learned  from 
a  large  collection  of  Bibles  in  his  father's  library,  but 
which  contained  "  not  a  single  production  of  any  muse." 
Beautifully  did  he  write,  "How  happy  shall  I  be  if  by' 
the  completion  of  the  '  Messiah7  I  may  contribute  some- 
what to  the  glory  of  our  great  and  divine  religion! 
How  sweet  and  transporting  is  this  idea  to  my  mind  ! 
That  is  my  great  rewai'd." 

In  early  life  Klopstock  knew  a  lady  worthy  of  himself. 
They  loved  and  breathed  poetry  together.  At  the  end 
of  four  years  she  wrote  concerning  him,  "If  you  knew 
his  poem,  I  could  describe  him  very  briefly  in  saying  he 
is  in  all  respects  what  he  is  as  a  poet."  But,  alas  !  soon 
after  this  he  wrote  thus  to  a  friend,  seven  days  after 
her  removal  from  earth  : — "  I  supported  first  myself,  and 
then  her,  by  repeating  that  without  our  Father's  will 
not  a  hair  in  her  head  could  fall ;  and  more  than  once  I 
repeated  to  her  the  following  lines  from  my  last  Ode. 
Once  I  was  so  much  affected  as  to  be  compelled  to  stop 
at  every  line  : — 


PERSONAL   ami   SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  337 

'  Though  unseen  by  human  eye, 
My  Redeemer's  hand  is  nigh  : 
He  has  poured  salvation's  light 
Far  within  the  vale  of  niglit ; 
There  will  God  my  steps  control, 
There  his  presence  bless  my  soul. 
Lord,  whate'er  my  sorrows  be, 
Teach  me  to  look  up  to  thee.'  " 

This  truly-great  man  was  buried  under  a  weeping- 
willow,  with  a  single  line  on  his  tomb  : — 

"  Seed  sown  by  God  to  ripen  for  harvest." 


Eev.  Samuel  Bradburn. — Few  things  are  of  more 
importance  than  a  good  enunciation  of  hymns;  yet 
perhaps  in  nothing  more  than  in  this  do  our  clergymen 
fail.     Let  us  illustrate  its  importance. 

William  Dawson, — a  late  very  eminent  local  preacher 
in  England, — before  he  began  to  preach,  having  heard  of 
the  fame  of  the  Eev.  Samuel  Bradburn  as  an  orator, 
went  to  Leeds,  in  the  year  1793,  to  hear  him  in  the  Eev. 
Edward  Parsons's  church.  His  commanding  figure, 
powdered  hair,  and  advanced  age  fixed  Dawson's  eye 
and  attracted  his  admiration.  The  subject  of  his  sermon 
was  the  kingly  office  of  Christ :  it  was  a  masterly  per- 
formance; and  Dawson  was  filled  with  admiration. 

On  reading  the  last  hymn,  Mr.  Bradburn  inclined  his 
person  over  the  front  of  the  pulpit,  and,  looking  to  the 
precentor,  or  clerk,  as  though  somewhat  displeased  with 
him, — or  rather  preferring,  like  his  Methodist  brethren  in 

29 


338  INI  l.i  l :.\« JE   01    DTMK6   ON 

eral,  to  read  the  hymn-  to  be  Bnng, — be  said,  u  I  will 
give  out  the  last  two  \  ':" — 

'•The  government  of  earth  and  seas 
Upon  his  shoulders  shall  be  laid, 
His  wide  dominion  shall  increase, 
And  honors  to  his  name  be  paid. 

"Jesus,  the  holy  child,  shall  sit 

High  on  his  father  David's  throne, 
Shall  crush  his  foes  beneath  his  feet, 
And  reign  to  ages  yet  unknown." 

Mr.  Dawson  had  never  heard  these  words  before;  but 
Bradburn's  manner  of  repeating  them  was  such  that  he 
ever  after  remembered  them. 

Eev.  Dr.  E.  D.  Griffin.— Of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  E. 
Griffin  it  has  been  said  that,  while  in  reading  the  Scrip- 
tures he  seemed  to  evolve  a  meaning  and  richness  never 
thought  of  before,  in  reading  hymns  he  gave  more  force 
of  expression,  and  often  more  impressiveness  to  their 
sentiments,  than  could  be  given  by  the  singing  of  even 
a  good  choir.  Indeed,  the  great  masters  of  sacred  music 
are  not  more  careful  to  bring  the  force  of  their  art  to 
bear  on  each  note  than  was  the  excellent  doctor  to 
bring  the  resources  of  eloquence  to  bear  upon  every 
syllable  of  the  hymn  which  he  read.  He  read  slowly, 
and  gave  himself  time  to  throw  the  right  and  full  ex- 
pression and  inflection  on  each  word.  Moreover,  he 
infused  his  whole  pathos  into  the  reading,  as  much  as  if 
the  lines  were  a  fresh  and  original  utterance  of  his  own 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  S39 

feelings.     It   has  been  often  said    that   by   the   simple 
reading-  of  the  hymn, — 

"  Mighty  God,  while  angels  bless  thee, 
May  an  infant  bless  thy  name," 

he  would  produce  as  much  impression  upon  an  audience 
as  would  ordinarily  be  effected  by  an  eloquent  sermon. 


The  late  extraordinary  man,  Eobert  Hall,  of  England, 
eminently  excelled  in  reading  hymns.  No  one  who  ever 
heard  him  at  his  social  prayer-meeting  can  forget  the 
intense  dignity  and  feeling  with  which  he  would  enun- 
ciate the  words  of  Dr.  Doddridge, — 

"The  splendid  crown  which  Moses  sought 
Still  beams  around  his  brow, 
Though  soon  great  Pharaoh's  sceptred  pride 
Was  taught  by  death  to  bow." 

Eev.  Dr.  Stillman. — Few  men  could  read  a  hymn 

with  more  effect  than  the  Eev.  Dr.  Samuel  Stillman,  of 

Boston,  who  died  in  1807.     Xone  who  ever  heard  him 

will  forget  the  verse  of  Watts,  as  it  was  enunciated  by 

him  from  the  pulpit : — 

"Well,  the  Redeemer's  gone, 

To  appear  before  our  God, — 
To  sprinkle  o'er  the  flaming  throne 
With  his  atoning  blood." 

Some  cold-blooded  critic,  who  probably  never  read 
Numbers  xxv.  2,  has  censured  this  verse;  but  I  think 
he  would  have  been  disarmed  had  he  heard  Dr.  Still- 
man  read  it.     His  voice  had  a  beautiful  circumflex  to  it: 


340  [NFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

he  threw  liis  emphasis  on  the  word  u  well/1  then  a  pause, 

— and  the  rest  of  the  verse  was  pronounced  in  that  cheer- 
ful and  animating  tone  which  seemed  to  rend  the  veil  and 
transport  the  hearer  into  the  unseen  world.  The  most 
skilful  actor  never  made  a  more  sudden  and  happy 
transition.  There  was  no  apparent  art  in  his  style  or 
delivery.     It  was  all  earnest  simplicity. 

Rev.  Dr.  Broaddus. — The  Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.  Dagg  gives 
an  interesting  account  of  the  manner  in  which  the  late 
Rev.  Dr.  A.  Broaddus,  a  Southern  Baptist  minister,  con- 
ducted public  worship.  The  manner  in  which  he  read 
his  hymns  may  furnish  an  important  hint  to  minister-. 

Dr.  D says,  "  He  read  the  hymn  of  Dr.  Watts,  which 

begins, — 

'Lord,  we  are  blind,  we  mortals  blind; 

We  can*t  behold  thy  bright  abode: 
Oh,  'tis  beyond  a  creature  mind 

To  glance  a  thought  half-way  to  God.' 

His  manner  of  reading  was  to  me  new  and  attractive; 
and  before  he  had  finished  this  first  stanza  my  attention 
was  riveted.  He  read  through  the  hymn;  and  the  im- 
pression produced  on  my  mind  forty  years  have  not 
erased.  From  that  time  I  have  regarded  this  hymn — 
perhaps  on  account  of  the  imjn-ession  then  made — as  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  that  Dr.  AVatts  ever  composed.'' 

Thoughtless  Clergymen. — AVe  really  do  wish  that 
our  ministers  were   always   careful   in  the  selection  ot 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  341 

their  hymns,  that  they  may  be  appropriate  and  season- 
able. We  have  heard  a  hymn  written  to  describe  winter 
and  to  draw  from  it  appropriate  lessons  read  to  be  sung 
in  the  sultry  heats  of  July  or  August;  and  some  time 
ago  a  somewhat  aged  minister,  in  a  large,  intelligent,  and 
pious  congregation,  announced,  on  a  bright  Sabbath 
morning,  the  beautiful  evening  hymn  written  by 
Edmeston, — 

"Saviour,  breathe  an  evening  blessing, 
Ere  repose  our  spirits  seal." 

What  a  lamentable  indication  of  bad  taste  ! 

A  still  more  ludicrous  scene,  arising  from  a  similar 
cause,  has  been  described  to  us  by  a  Methodist  clergy- 
man, in  one  of  the  papers  of  that  body  of  Christians. 
He  says : — 

"  I  had  preached  my  last  sermon  at  a  favorite  appoint- 
ment on  my  first  circuit.  The  people  had  been  kind 
and  generous,  and  I  loved  them  dearly.  The  house  was 
full;  it  was  my  final  appeal  to  the  flock  beloved;  and, 
though  almost  overcome  with  emotion,  I  had  got  through, 
somehow,  with  the  'farewell  sermon/ — my  first  and  last. 
I  knewT  that,  either  from  sympathy  or  sorrow,  the  con- 
gregation was  sharing  largely  in  my  feelings, — that  I 
was  not  alone  'in  the  melting  mood.'  As  I  sat  down, 
overwhelmed  with  grief  at  the  sore  parting,  a  local 
preacher,  whom  I  had  invited  to  close  the  service,  rose, 
and,  opening  the  book  at  random,  read,  in  solemn  tones, 
the  hymn  commencing, — 

29* 


342  i.M  m  BM01   01    HI  UNA 

1  Jesus,  we  lift  our  souls  to  thee  : 
Thy  Holy  Spirit  breathe, 
And  let  this  little  infant  be 
Baptized  into  thy  death* 

The  effect  of  this  malapropos  selection  you  may  possibly 
imagine,  but  I  cannot  describe." 

Another  illustration  of  inappropriate  hymns  ar 
from  the  custom,  allowed  by  some  ministers,  of  permit- 
ting the  choirs  to  sing  voluntaries  at  all  times  and 
under  all  circumstances.  We  have  heard  a  doctrinal 
sermon  directly  opposed  by  the  "voluntary"  sung  after 
it;  and  we  have  just  read  of  the  choir  of  a  very  large 
congregation  in  Massachusetts,  who  sang  at  the  funeral 
of  a  man  of  distinction,  with  great  unction, — 

"  Believing  we  rejoice 

To  see  the  curse  remove." 


A  Tory  Minister. — It  is  of  no  small  importance  that 
the  clergy  should  be  acquainted  with  hymns  and  psalms 
before  they  read  them  Avith  a  view  to  their  being  sung 
by  congregations.  Some  years  ago,  a  somewhat  idle 
Tory  Congregational  minister  in  England  announced 
Dr.  Watts's  version  of  the  Seventy-Fifth  Psalm,  "To 
thee,  most  holy  and  most  high,"  etc.  When  he  had 
reached  the  second  verse,  u  Britain  was  doomed  to  be  a 
slave/'  etc.,  he  became  alarmed,  and  fled  to  the  sixth 
verse,  which,  to  his  sad  amazement,  flatly  denied  the 
divine  right  of  kings: — 


PEfieONAI   AND    social    HAPPINESS.  B43 

"No  vain  pretence  to  royal  birth 
shall  fix  a  tyrant  on  the  throne: 
God,  the  great  Sovereign  of  the  earth, 
Will  rise  and  make  his  justice  known." 

His  confusion  became  apparent;  but,  happily  for 
him,  the  people  supposed  he  might  have  a  reference  to 
the  King  of  Hanover,  then  very  unpopular  among  the 
British  people,  but  who,  on  the  first  accession  of  Queen 
Victoria,  and  before  she  had  a  family,  was  heir-pre- 
sumptive to  the  throne. 

Doctor  Mason. — Doctor  Lowell  Mason  has  given  us 
a  very  striking  narrative  illustrating  the  importance  ot 
carefully  examining  a  hymn  before  even  abridging  it. 
Some  years  ago,  when  that  gentleman  was  organist  and 
the  conductor  of  the  singing  at  the  Bowdoin  Street 
Church,  Boston,  a  visiting  clergyman  conducted  the 
service.  Dr.  Mason  says,  "  The  whole  hymn  was  first 
read  by  the  minister,  and  then,  just  before  the  singing- 
exercise  commenced,  the  direction  was  given, '  Omit  the 
second  stanza/  The  following  are  the  first  three  stanzas, 
and  the  connection  between  the  first  and  third  stanzas 
will  be  seen  at  a  glance  : — 

1  When  thou,  my  righteous  Judge,  shalt  come 
To  take  thy  ransomed  people  home, 

Shall  I  among  them  stand  ? 
Shall  such  a  worthless  worm  as  I, 
Who  sometimes  am  afraid  to  die, 

Be  found  at  thy  right  hand  ? 

'  I  love  to  meet  thy  people  now, 
Before  thy  feet  with  them  to  how. 


344  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

Though  vilest  of  them  nil; 
But — can  I  bear  the  piercing  thought — 
"What  if  my  name  should  be  left  out 

When  thou  for  them  shalt  call  ? 

1 0  Lord,  prevent  it  by  thy  grace : 
Be  thou  my  only  hiding-place 

In  this  the  accepted  day ; 
Thy  pardoning  voice,  oh,  let  me  hear, 
To  still  my  unbelieving  fear, 

Nor  let  me  fall,  I  pray.' 

"  The  organist  did  not  perceive  the  fearful  connection 
between  the  first  and  third  stanzas  until  a  moment  be- 
fore it  was  time  to  commence  the  latter,  when,  startled 
and  terrified,  he  cried  out,  'Sing  the  second  stanza  !'  just 
in  time  to  avoid  the  utterance  of  the  frightful  petition." 

Dr.  Mason  properly  adds,  "  It  is  unquestionably  the 
duty  of  the  choir  to  follow  implicitly  the  directions  of 
the  minister  in  all  that  appertains  to  the  singing  in 
public  worship ;  and  the  habit  which  prevails  in  some 
places  of  inattention  to  the  directions  given  from  the 
pulpit  in  relation  to  the  abridgment  of  the  hymn  is 
wholly  unjustifiable;  but  there  seem  to  be  exceptions 
to  almost  all  rules,  and  here  was  an  occasion  when  dis- 
obedience to  the  oral  rubric  seemed  to  be  positively  re- 
quired :  indeed,  it  was  a  case  of  life  or  death,  and  it 
was  impossible  to  follow  it.  Warm  were  the  thanks 
expressed  by  members  of  the  congregation  after  the 
service  for  their  deliverance  from  the  terrible  moral  col- 
lision with  which  they  were  threatened." 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  346 

Mr.  Dawson. — We  have  sometimes,  when  conducting 
the  worship  of  God,  felt  strongly  disposed  to  interrupt 
the  choir  for  the  sake  of  a  striking  remark  on  what  is 
too  often  thoughtlessly  sung.  We  have  before  us  an 
instance  in  which  the  monotony  was  broken  with  good 
effect.  Mr.  Dawson,  an  eminent  English  Wesleyan  local 
preacher,  had  once  preached  a  very  impressive  sermon, 
and  at  its  close  read  Charles  Wesley's  beautiful  hymn, — 

"0  love  divine,  how  sweet  thou  art !'' 

When  the  choir  were  singing  the  third  verse, — 

"God  only  knows  the  love  of  God,*' 

he  stopped  them  and  said,  "  Stop,  friends !  If  angels, 
the  first-born  sons  of  light,  cannot  understand  the  height, 
the  breadth,  the  depth,  the  length,  of  the  love  of  God, 
how  can  we  expect  to  fathom  it  while  here  below  V*  He 
then  repeated,  with  profound  feeling,  thrilling  his  large 
auditory, — 

"  'God  only  knows  the  love  of  God.' 

Let  us  sing  it  again,  friends;  for  we  shall  have  to  sing 
it  in  heaven  : — 

1  God  only  knows  the  love  of  God.'  " 

Fault  Found. — It  is  usually  true  that  the  members 
of  every  denomination  praise  their  poets  and  their 
hymns  j  but  we  have  before  us  a  remarkable  fact  of  an 
opposite  character.  The  Eev.  Samuel  Bradburn,  a  man 
of  fine  talents,  and  of  wit  as  well  as  piety,  and  an  emi- 


346  INFLUENCE    Of    HYMNS   ON 

nenl  preacher  among  the  English  Wesley  an  Methodists, 

was  once  engaged  to  preach, and  read  the  hymn  written 
by  Charles  Wesley  contains  this  verse: — 

••Ah,  lovely  appearance  of  death! 
What  sight  upon  earth  is  so  fair'.' 
Not  all  the  gay  pageants  that  breathe 
Can  with  a  dead  body  compare." 

He  broke  out  : — "  What  business  has  this  hymn  in  our 
book,  containing  as  it  does  a  sentiment  so  false, — '  Ah, 
lovely  appearance  of  death  !' — when  there  is  nothing 
lovely  about  it.  Why  did  Abraham's  beloved  and  beau- 
tiful Sarah,  when  she  died,  become  so  unlovely  that  he 
expressed  his  wish,  '  Bury  my  dead  out  of  my  sight' t  " 
It  is  right  to  say  that  the  Methodists  of  this  country 
have  omitted  this  hymn  from  their  book. 

A  Clergyman  in  Georgia. — A  few  years  ago,  an  aged 
minister  was  officiating  for  the  first  time  in  a  Methodist 
church  in  Georgia,  where  they  keep  up  the  old  custom 
of  having  the  h}'mns  "  lined,"  that  the  whole  congre- 
gation may,  according  to  the  wise  discipline  of  that 
Church,  join  in  the  singing,  whether  they  have  hymn- 
books  or  not.  The  venerable  man  could  not  see  dis- 
tinctly, and  intended  to  omit  singing  during  that  service. 
To  announce  his  purpose,  he  arose  and  said, — 

"  My  eyes  are  dim  :  I  cannot  see*' 

and  immediately  the  chorister  commenced  singing  it  to 
the  tune  of  "  Old  Hundred."     Surprise  and  mortification 


PERSONAL    AM>    BOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  347 

made  the  clergyman  almost  speechless;  but  he  stammered 
out, — 

"I  meant  but  an  apology." 

This  line  was  immediately  sung  by  the  congregation, 
and  the  minister,  now  quite  excited,  exclaimed, — 

"Forbear,  I  pray  :  niy  sight  is  dim"  

but  the  singing  proceeded,  and  the  couplet  was  finished 
by  his  troubled  and  beseeching  explanation, — 

"  I  do  not  mean  to  read  a  hymn." 

Strange  as  it  may  seem,  this  was  also  simg  with  much 
energy,  while  the  worthy  old  gentleman  sat  down  in 
actual  despair  of  accomplishing  his  purpose  to  do  without 
singing. 

A  Deacon  in  a  Difficulty. — Deacons,  as  well  as 
ministers,  have  sometimes  been  placed  in  an  awkward 
predicament.  On  one  occasion,  in  New  England,  a  gen- 
tleman of  this  order  had  been  called  on  to  deacon  the 
hymns, — that  is,  to  read  them  line  by  line.  He  looked  at 
his  book  for  some  time,  endeavoring  to  spell  out  the 
words  j  but,  having  unfortunately  left  his  spectacles  at 
home,  he  was  compelled  to  make  known  his  difficulty, 
and  said, — 

"My  eyes,  indeed,  are  very  blind." 

The  choir,  who  had  been  impatiently  waiting  for  a  line, 
supposing  this  to  be  the  first  of  a  common-metre  hymn, 


348  IMI.I  ENCE    OB    HYMN 8    OS 

immediately  Bang  it.     The  good  deacon  exclaimed,  with 
emphasis, — 

"  I  cannot  see  at  all." 

This,  of   course,   they  also  sung,  when  the   astonished 
pillar  of  the  church  cried  out, — 

"I  really  think  you  are  bewitched  !" 

which  the  choir  at  once  repeated  in  full  tone;  and  the 
deacon  added, — 

"  The  mischief's  in  you  all;" 

when  the  choir  finished  the  verse  by  echoing  the  last  line, 
and  the  deacon  sat  down  in  despair. 

Regulations  of  Singing. — The  History  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  at  Kockaway,  New  Jersey,  tells  us, 
"  That  part  of  divine  service  pertaining  to  the  singing 
of  psalms,  and  what  version  of  psalms  should  be  used 
in  worship,  having  made  great  uneasiness  and  inquietude, 
in  April,  1780,  it  was  voted  to  appoint  four  choristers  to 
set  the  tunes;  that  Benjamin  Jackson,  Francis  AL'Carty, 
and  Jacob  Lyon  be  appointed  choristers ;  that  they  sing 
in  the  afternoon  without  reading  the  psalm  line  by  line  ; 
and  David  Beeman  to  sing  the  forepart  of  the  day,  un- 
less otherwise  agreed  on  by  Mr.  Beeman  and  the  other 
choristers;  and  that  they  sing  any  tunes  that  are  sung 
by  the  neighboring  churches,  as  they  shall  judge  proper." 
.  .  .  April,  1789,  some  further  difficulty  having  arisen 
respecting  the  singing  in  the  church,  "  It  was  voted  at  a 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS. 


349 


parish  meeting  to  have  the  psalms  read  line  by  line,  or 
by  two  lines,  in  singing,  in  future,  except  on  particular 
occasions."  ...  At   a  parish   meeting   May    14,    1792, 

"  The  mode  of  singing  was  again  adjusted  by  the  ap- 
pointment of  Benjamin  Johnson,  Russel  Davis,  and 
Daniel  Hurd  as  choristers,  and  that  they  act  discretion- 
ary when  to  sing  without  reading  the  lines." 

Importance  of  Eight  Feelings. — In  ''Hood's  History 
of  llusic  in  New  England,"  it  is  said  that  when,  in  1640, 
the  unhappy  Charles  I.  fled  from  Oxford,  he  threw  him- 
self upon  the  army  of  his  countrymen,  then  encamped 
before  Newark.  Here,  instead  of  being  befriended,  he 
was  reproached  and  insulted  to  his  face.  Upon  one 
occasion  during  public  service,  one  of  the  chaplains,  after 
having  used  harsh  language,  directed  the  Fifty-Second 
Psalm  to  be  sung,  beginning, — 

"Why  dost  thou,  tyrant,  boast  thyself 
Thy  wicked  deeds  to  praise  ?" 

As  soon  as  they  had  sung  it,  the  king  rose  and  re- 
quested the  soldiers  to  sing  the  Psalm, — 

"  Have  mercy  on  me,  Lord,  I  pray  ; 
For  men  would  me  devour." 


This  was  accordingly  sung  in  compassion  for  his  dis- 
tress, which  saw  no  relief  till  he  reached  the  scaffold 
ordered  by  the  High  Court  of  Justice. 

The  history  of  our  country  relates  a  not  dissimilar 
anecdote  of  the  visit  in  1686  of  Sir  Edmund  Andross  to 

30 


350  INFLUENCE   Of    IIVMNS   ON 

New  Haven  in  search  of  Goffe,  one  of  the  regicides,  who 
really  w&b  present  at  the  church  when  Sir  Edmund  was 
there.  The  clerk  felt  it  his  duty  to  select  a  psalm  not  in- 
capable of  a  double  application,  and  which  accordingly 
hit  Sir  Edmund  in  a  tender  part : — 

••  Why  dost  thou,  tyrant,  boast  thyself, 
Thy  wicked  deeds  to  praise?" 

All  his  attempts  to  discover  "  his  man"  utterly  failed. 


A  complete  history  of  hymns  would  develop  facts  both 
pleasing  and  painful  as  to  the  state  of  religion  in  dif- 
ferent places  and  at  different  periods.  The  Eev.  John 
Adams,  of  Durham,  New  Hampshire,  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  1745,  and  was  ordained  in  1748. 
After  thirty  years'  residence  at  Durham,  difficulties  arose 
with  his  people,  and  he  was  dismissed.  We  fear  that 
Christian  feeling  did  not  abound  even  in  his  heart;  for  at 
the  close  of  his  farewell  sermon  he  requested  his  people 
to  "sing  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God,  and  to  their 
own  edification,"  the  first  three  verses  of  the  One  Hun- 
dredth and  Twentieth  Psalm  of  Dr.  Watts, — 

"Thou  God  of  love,  thou  ever  blest, 
Pity  my  suffering  state  : 
When  wilt  thou  set  my  soul  at  rest 
From  lips  which  love  deceit  ? 

"  Hard  lot  of  mine  !  my  days  are  cast 
Among  the  sons  of  strife, 
Whose  never-ceasing  brawlings  waste 
My  golden  hours  of  life. 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  351 

"Oh,  mighl  I  fly  to  ohange  my  place, 
How  would  I  choose  to  dwell 
In  Borne  wild,  lonesome  wilderness, 
And  leave  these  gates  of  hell!" 

An  Old  Parody. — 

"Come,  thou  Almighty  King," 

is  a  parody  on  the  old  English  national  anthem,  "  God 
save  the  King,"  and  first  appeared  in  that  country  some 
nineteen  years  after  "  God  save  the  King"  had  been  first 
printed  in  the  "  Gentleman7 s  Magazine"  which  was  in 
1745,  where  it  was  simply  called  "A  song  for  two  voices." 
It  is  now  common  among  us  under  the  disguise  of 
"America."  The  first  appearance  of  the  hymn  was  in 
1764,  in  a  collection  of  Psalms  and  Hymns,  extracted 
from  various  authors,  by  the  Rev.  Spencer  Madan. 
From  this  fact  it  is  often  attributed  to  Madan's  own 
pen;  but  of  this  there  is  no  evidence:  all  believe  the  real 
author  to  be  as  much  unknown  as  that  of  which  it  is  a 
parody.  It  has  ever  since  retained  its  place  in  most  of 
our  collections,  with  remarkable  integrity  and  freedom 
from  "emendations,"  and  will  probably  do  so  till  the 
Church  loses  its  militant  character. 

Singular  Music. — One  of  the  most  singular  curiosities 
of  musical  literature  with  which  we  are  acquainted 
relates  to  a  fugue  tune  to  which  is  sung  a  version  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Third  Psalm,  in  the  prodigious 
effort  of  the  performance  of  which  the  ear-splitting  com- 


INFLUENCE   Of    BTHNS    OH 

bination  of  the  several  voices  scarcely  bears  a  resemblance 
to  that  oily  current  poured  on  Aaron's  head,  which 

"  Ran  down  his  beard  and  o'er  his  head — 

Ran  down  his  beard 

his  robes 

And  o'er  his  robes 

Elan  down  his  beard ran  down  his 

o'er  his  robes 

His  robes,  his  robes,  ran  down  his  beard 

Ran  down  his 

o'er  his  robes 

Ran  down  his  beard 

h-i-s  b-e-ard 

Its  costly  moist 

Ran  down  his  beard 

ure  —  beard  —  his  —  beard  —  his  —  shed 

—  ran  down  his  beard  —  his  —  down 

his  robes  —  its  costly  moist  —  his  beard 

ure  shed  —  his  —  cost  —  his  robes  —  robes  —  ure  shed 

I-t-s  c-o-s-t-l-ie  moist — ure s-h-e-d." 


Bishop  Seabury,  on  one  of  his  visitations,  was  asked 
his  opinion  of  this  composition;  and  his  reply  was  that 
he  had  paid  no  attention  to  the  music,  but  that  his 
sympathies  were  so  much  excited  for  poor  Aaron  that 
he  was  afraid  he  would  not  have  a  hair  left. 

Hymns  of  the  Old  Style. — It  may  be  of  some  interest 
to  the  reader  to  have  before  him  two  or  three  verses  of 
the  hymns  in  use  before  the  days  of  Dr.  "Watts,  which 
gradually  gave  way,  as  the  taste  for  harmony  and  beauty 
increased  in  our  churches,  to  the  hymns  now  in  use.    To 


PERSONAL   AM)   800LAX    HAPPINESS.  353 

understand  the  true  character  of  these  verses,  they  should 
be  "  deaconed  off,"  and  sung  one  line  at  a  time. 

"Tis  like  the  precious  ointment 
Down  Aaron's  beard  did  go ; 
Down  Aaron's  beard  it  downward  went, 
His  garment-skirts  unto." 

Here  is  another  specimen;    and  though  our  readers 
may  smile  at  it,  their  fathers  did  not : — 

"Ye  monsters  of  the  bubbling  deep, 
Your  Maker's  praises  spout ; 
Up  from  the  sands,  ye  codlings,  peep, 
And  wag  your  tails  about." 

The  following  specimen,  and  our  last,  contains  truth, 
whatever  may  be  said  of  its  poetry : — 

"  The  race  is  not  forever  got 
By  him  who  fastest  runs ; 
Nor  the  battle  by  those  people 
Who  shoot  the  longest  guns." 


Singing  at  Bangor. — It  is  both  interesting  and  pro- 
fitable to  understand  the  manner  in  which  our  fathers 
conducted  their  worship.  A  concert  by  the  Billings  and 
Holden  Society  of  Bangor,  Maine,  composed  of  elderly 
ladies  and  gentlemen,  was  held  in  that  city  in  1848. 
They  were  "  singers  of  the  olden  time,"  veritable  anti- 
quarian musicians,  worshippers  of  the  majestic  melodies 
of  Luther,  Pleyel,  Tansur,  Holyoke,  and  the  rich  fugues 
of  Billings,  Holden,  Edson,  and  Eead,  of  by-gone  days. 
The  enraptured  writer  of  the  description  of  this  meeting 

30* 


854  ran  i   hymns  oh 

exclaims,  "Oh,  could  you  have  been  there!     It   \\ 
glorious  sight  as  weD  as  Bound.     Those  old  gentlemen 
took  us  back  again  to  thirty  or  forty  go  !     But 

let  me  give  you  a  description  of  them. 

"The  number  of  singers,  I  should  judge,  was  nearly  a 
hundred:  at  any  rate,  they  filled  the  singing-gallery  and 
part  of  the  side  galleries  of  the  First  Baptist  Church. 
Among  them  were  at  least  four  deacons,  four  colonels, 
several  captains,  judges,  doctors,  lawyers,  esquires  of  the 
old  school,  and,  last,  though  not  least,  the  chief  members 
of  the  Bangor  Antiquarian  Society.  All  classes  were 
represented.  An  ancient  colonel  led  off  the  singing, 
with  a  white  wand  and  blue  ribbon.  He  is  a  stout  man, 
between  fifty  and  sixty  years  of  age,  with  gray  hair,  of 
considerable  vigor,  with  a  voice  commanding  and  pre- 
cisely adapted  to  the  music  sung  that  evening.  On  his 
right  was  an  elderly  tenor  deacon,  who  at  times  was 
evidently  as  near  heaven  as  he  could  be  and  still  be  on 
earth.  lie  is  a  tall  man;  and  not  unfrequently,  during 
the  performance  of  some  unique  passage,  you  might 
have  heard  the  whisper.  '  See  him  go  up!'  as.  while  beat- 
ing time,  he  would  draw  up  his  tall  form  to  its  full  height 
and  elevate  his  face  toward  the  eeiling.  On  the  left  of 
the  leader  was  an  ancient  tenor  judge,  who  prides  him- 
self on  being  able  to  sing  all  the  k  old  tunes'  without 
looking  at  a  note.  He  stood  erect,  looking  straight  for- 
ward, preserving  an  astonishing  equanimity  during  the 
whole  evening,  although  he  beat  time — as  did  all  the 
other  singers — quite  emphatically.   At  the  extreme  right 


PERSONAL   and    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  366 

of  the  choir  wore  the  ladies, — matronly  personages  in 
caps,  With  Strong  voices  and  peculiar  intonations.  In- 
deed, the  style  of  singing  was  quite  different  from  that 
of  the  present  day  throughout ;  and  I  was  happy  to  find 
that  the  rich  nasal  sound  of  forty  years  ago  is  not  yet 
forgotten,  and  that  the  practice  of  beating  time  with  the 
hand  still  exists. 

"  The  number  of  tunes  sung  was  about  thirty.  Some 
were  repeated.  Among  the  tunes  were  Bridgewater, 
Element,  Tilden,  Bristol,  Portland,  Buckingham',  Lynn- 
field,  Montague,  Eainbow,  Sherborne,  Victory,  Ode  on 
Science,  Heavenly  Yision,  Calvary,  Invitation,  etc.  Invi- 
tation was  encored.  It  was  sung  in  magnificent  style. 
When  the  part  beginning 

1  Fly  like  a  youthful  hart  or  roe' 

was  repeated,  one  could  hardly  help  imagining  himself 
among  a  flock  of  young  deer,  scampering 

'  Over  the  hills  where  spices  grow,' 

so  swiftly  did  the  chorister  lead  off  and  the  singers 
follow. 

"  The  singing  commenced  at  seven,  and  continued  with- 
out cessation,  except  during  a  recess  of  a  few  minutes  to 
get  breath,  until  nine  o'clock.  The  audience  were  de- 
lighted not  only  with  the  music,  but  with  the  high  enjoy- 
ment manifested  by  the  venerable  musicians." 


356  INH.LENCE    UP    HYMNS    ON 

Bedstone    Pbesbyxery. —  In  the  Latter  part  of  the 

eighteenth  century  considerable  discussion  took  place 
in  the  Old  Redstone  Presbytery  in  reference  to  the  in- 
troduction of  Dr.  Watts'fl  Psalms  and  Hymns,  most  of 
the  older  people  being  in  favor  of  the  older  version.  In 
some  places  a  compromise  was  adopted.  They  would 
begin  with  an  old  psalm  and  conclude  with  a  psalm 
or  li^mm  from  Watts.  Though  Dr.  Power  used  Watts 
in  his  own  family,  he  yielded  to  the  preferences  of  his 
people  in  the  use  of  Rouse  in  public  worship.  The  lines 
were  "given  out"  by  a  precentor,  or  clerk,  as  he  was 
called.  Dr.  Power's  clerk  used  to  give  out  one  line  at  a 
time,  and  always,  in  doing  so,  sounded  the  last  syllable 
on  a  dead  level  with  the  first  note  of  that  part  of  the 
tune,  prolonging  the  sound  a  little,  so  as  to  slide  grace- 
fully and  imperceptibly  into  the  singing.  To  a  stranger 
the  effect  was  rather  ludicrous;  but  he  was  considered  a 
great  master  of  his  business,  especially  by  the  older 
people. 

At  Buffalo  and  Cross  Creek,  Watts's  Psalms  and  Hymns 
were  used  at  the  prayer-meeting,  though  Mr.  Porter 
scarcely  approved  of  it.  On  one  occasion,  however,  his 
people  sang  with  great  animation  the  lines, — 

"Let  those  refuse  to  sing 

Who  never  knew  our  God," 

when  the  old  gentleman  was  constrained  to  join  in  the 
service,  saying  afterward,  "If  my  conscience  won't  let 
me  sinsr,  T'll  wring  its  neck." 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  357 

Boston  Congregations. — A  beautiful  fact  in  connec- 
tion with  singing  is  told  of  the  excellent  George  White- 
field.  During  the  delivery  of  a  sermon  in  Boston  on 
the  wonders  of  creation,  providence,  and  redemption, 
a  violent  tempest  of  thunder  and  lightning  came  on, 
which  so  alarmed  the  congregation  that  they  sat  in 
breathless  awe.  The  preacher  closed  his  note-book,  and, 
stepping  into  one  of  the  wings  of  the  desk,  fell  on  his 
knees,  and,  with  much  feeling  and  fine  taste,  repeated 
from  Dr.  Watts, — 

u  Hark  !  the  Eternal  rends  the  sky  ! 
A  mighty  voice  before  hini  goes, — 
A  voice  of  music  to  his  friends, 

But  threatening  thunder  to  his  foes. 

"  Come,  children,  to  your  Father's  arms  ! 
Hide  in  the  chambers  of  my  grace 
Till  the  fierce  storm  be  overblown 
And  my  revenging  fury  cease!" 

"Let  us  devoutly  sing  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God 
this  hymn  : — Old  Hundred. " 

The  whole  congregation  instantly  rose  and  poured 
forth  the  sacred  song.  By  the  time  the  hymn  was 
finished,  the  storm  was  hushed,  and  the  sun,  bursting 
forth,  showed  the  magnificent  arch  of  peace.  Resuming 
the  desk,  the  preacher  quoted,  with  admirable  tact, 
"  Look  upon  the  rainbow :  praise  Him  that  made  it. 
Very  beautiful  is  it  in  the  brightness  thereof!  It  com- 
passeth  the  heaven  about  with  a  glorious  circle;  and 
the  hands  of  the  Most  High  have  bended  it."  The  epi- 
sode added  intense  interest  to  the  service. 


358  i mi. i  i:\CE  OF  HYMNS  on 

Coincidence. — One  of  the  Boston  papers,  a  few  years 
ago,  related  a  very  beautiful  coincidence.  During  the 
morning  service  at  Christ's  Church,  Salem  Street,  an 
incident  occurred  which  would  have  been  interpreted  by 
some  of  the  ancients  as  a  signal  of  divine  approbation. 
The  Eev.  .Mr.  Marcus,  of  Xantucket,  the  officiating 
minister,  read,  in  order  to  be  sung,  the  Eighty-Fourth 
Psalm,  in  which  may  be  found  the  verse, — 

"  The  birds,  more  happier  far  than  I, 
Around  thy  temple  throng : 
Securely  there  they  build,  and  there 
Securely  hatch  their  young." 

While  he  was  reading  this  psalm,  a  dove  flew  in  at  one 
of  the  windows  and  alighted  on  the  capital  of  one  of 
the  pilasters  near  the  altar,  and  almost  over  the  head 
of  the  reader.  A  note  of  the  psalm  and  hymn  to  be 
sung  had  been  previously  given,  as  is  customary,  to  the 
choir,  or  it  might  have  been  supposed  that  there  was 
design  in  the  selection;  for  the  second  hymn  com- 
menced,— 

"Come,  Holy  Spirit,  Heavenly  Dove, 

With  all  thy  quickening  powers ! 
Kindle  a  flame  of  sacred  love 

In  these  cold  hearts  of  ours!" 

The  preacher  was  unconscious  of  the  presence  of  the 
bird  until  the  close  of  the  services,  when  the  innocent 
visitor  was  suffered  to  depart  in  peace. 

"  China." — Say  what  we  will,  and  whatever  may  be 
the  taste  of  different  persons  as  to  tunes  ancient  and 


PERSONAL   AM)    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS. 

modern,  it  is  certain  thai  we  all  enjoy  the  occasional 
treat  of  an  old  tune.  A  congregation  in  Boston,  a  few 
years  ago,  who  seldom  heard  old-fashioned  music,  were 
one  day  surprised  and  delighted  when  the  choir  sung 
the  tune  of  "  China,"  as  set  to  the  well-known  words  of 
Dr.  Watts,— 

••Why  do  vre  mourn  departing  friends, 
Or  shake  at  death's  alarms  ?" 

The  incident  led  one  of  the  hearers  to  express  his 
feelings  in  some  lines  which  may  gratify  the  reader : — 

"The  preacher  had  bis  sermon  preached, 

And  prayer  befitting  marked  its  course. 
When,  lingering  yet  where  prayer  was  made, 

The  preacher  and  the  people  rose. 
They  sung  a  hymn  :   the  hymn  was  old, 

The  lines  were  like  familiar  things ; 
But,  bursting  as  from  harps  of  gold, 

The  music  swept  a  thousand  strings, 
While,  with  a  low  and  reverend  air, 
The  people  bowed  and  worshipped  there. 

"  The  young  man  paused,  and  wondered  why 

He  had  not  heard  such  strains  before ; 
The  old  man  wept,  and  seemed  again 

To  live  his  very  childhood  o'er, 
As  quickly  from  the  treasured  past 

Came  visions  of  the  olden  time, 
When  his  dear  father  worshipped  God 

While  swaying  to  the  music's  charm, 
And  by  his  side  they  sat  who  shared 

The  sunshine  of  his  early  days  : 
What  other  could  he  do  than  weep 

To  hear  once  more  those  good  old  lays  ? 

"Oh,  art  may  charm,  and  newer  strains 
May  better  please  the  youthful  breast; 


360  1M  1. 1  !  NOE   Of    HYMNS   ON 

But  unto  him  whose  locks  are  gray 

The  oldest  music  is  the  best. 
And  so  methought,  as  died  away 

Those  strains  within  that  place  of  prayer, 
That  heaven  to  some  will  sweeter  be 

If  "  Cltina"  is  remembered  there." 

Eev.  Dr.  Emmons. — The  late  distinguished  Dr.  Em- 
mons was  a  great  lover  of  sweet  sounds, — that  is,  the 
sound  of  the  human  voice, — and  religiously  excluded 
from  his  meeting-house  all  instrumental  music  except  a 
little  mahogany-colored  wooden  pitch-pipe,  about  five 
inches  by  three.  A  member  of  his  choir  had  learned  to 
play  the  bass-viol,  and,  anxious  to  exhibit  his  skill, 
early  one  Sunday  morning  most  unadvisedly  introduced 
his  big  fiddle  into  the  singing-gallery.  After  the  first 
prayer  was  ended  and  the  doctor  began  to  handle  his 
"Watts"  the  "  bass-violer"  lifted  up  his  profanation, 
and,  trying  his  strings,  instantly  attracted  the  doctor's 
attention.  He  paused,  laid  down  his  hymn-book,  took 
his  sermon  from  the  cushion,  and  proceeded  with  his 
discourse  as  if  singing  was  no  part  of  public  worship, 
and  finally  dismissed  the  congregation  "  without  note 
or  comment."  The  whole  choir  were  indignant.  They 
stayed  after  u  meeting/'  and  all  the  girls  and  young  men 
resolved  not  to  go  into  "the  singing-seats"  at  all  in  the 
afternoon;  and  the  elders  who  did  go  there  bore  the 
visages  of  men  "whose  minds  were  made  up." 

Services,  in  the  afternoon  began  as  usual.  The  doctor 
took  his  psalm-book  in  his  hand,  looked  over  his  spec- 
tacles at  the  gallery,  and  saw  only  a  few  there,  but, 


PERSONAL   AM)   SOCIAL    BAPPINJ  361 

Dothing  daunted,  read  a  psalm  and  sat  down.  No  bound 
followed;  no  one  stirred;  and  the  "leader"  looked  up 
in  utter  unconsciousness.  After  a  long  and  most  uneasy 
silence,  the  good  man,  his  face  somewhat  over- flushed, 
his  manner  rather  stern,  read  the  psalm  again,  paused, 
then  re-read  the  first  verse,  and,  pushing  up  his  spec- 
tacles, looked  interrogatively  into  the  gallery.  The 
leader  could  bear  it  no  longer,  and,  half  rising,  said, 
decidedly,  "  There  won't  be  any  singing  here  this  after- 
noon." 

Quick  as  thought  the  doctor  replied,  "  Then  there 
won't  be  any  preaching;"  and,  taking  his  cocked  hat 
from  its  peg,  he  marched  down  the  pulpit-stairs,  through 
the  broad  aisle,  and  out  of  the  house,  leaving  his  congre- 
gation utterly  astounded.  We  need  not  inform  our 
readers  that  "the  big  fiddle"  did  not  appear  in  "the 
singing-seats"  afterward. 

English  Clerks. — It  is  well  known  that  in  most  of 
the  congregations  of  England  the  hymns  are  "given 
out"  by  a  clerk,  who  occupies  a  seat  below  the  pulpit. 
These  gentlemen  are  not  always  remarkable  either  for 
their  intelligence  or  their  humility;  and  if  the  minister 
leaves  the  choice  of  the  hymns  to  them  they  will  some- 
times select  such  as  may  reprove  him  or  some  other  per- 
sons for  what  they  may  consider  errors  or  faults;  or 
sometimes  they  will  make  alterations  of  even  a  ludicrous 
character  in  the  hymns  or  psalms.  We  remember  once 
to  have  heard  an  occasional  sermon,  which  was  a  some- 


INFLUENCE    OF    BYMKfl    OH 

what  singular  one,  from  a  singular  man.     His  text  - 

ry  man  that  hath  this  hope  in  him  purifieth  him- 

■■i .  ;i  as  he  is  pure,"  (1  John  iii.  3.) — the  common 
understanding  of  which  is  that  the  Christian  aims  to 
imitate  the  purity  of  Christ;  but  worthy  Pastor  Eenals 
treated  the  text  so  as  to  make  the  Christian  the  source 
of  his  own  purity.  In  this  view  of  the  matter.  Brother 
Beal,  as  we  think,  properly  differed  from  him. — though 
no  one  expected  a  public  reproof  administered  by  him  to 
the  minister.  Xo  one  who  was  present  will  ever  forget 
how  the  said  clerk  rose,  with  majestic  mien  and  power- 
ful voice,  to  "  give  out"  the  hymn  Dr.  Watts  founded  on 
the  text,  or  with  what  emphasis  he  read  the  last  two 
lines  of  the  verse, — 

"  A  hope  so  much  divine 

May  trials  well  endure, — 
May  purge  our  souls  from  sense  and  sin, 
As  Ch.ist  the  Lord  is  pure." 

The  clerk  evidently  exulted,  the  congregation  smiled ; 
but  the  poor  preacher  looked  unutterable  things,  and, 
the  hymn  having  been  sung,  he  omitted  the  last  prayer 
and  pronounced  the  benediction.  He  could  never  be  pre- 
vailed on  to  preach  in  that  pulpit  again. 


In  the  days  of  our  youth  we  remember  to  have 
preached  a  sermon  which  gave  offence  to  one  of  these 
gentlemen, — he  having,  contrary  to  our  own  view  of  the 
matter,  an  insurmountable  objection  to  unregenerated  Mn- 
ners  being  exhorted  to  pray  or  to  do  any  other  spiritual 


PERSONAL   AND    SOCIAL    BAPPINE8&  303 

act.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon  he  led  us  to  sing,  with 
what  of  good  feeling  we  might,  the  lines  of  Watts, — 

"The  men  who  fear  thy  word 
Grow  wiser  than  their  teachers  are 
And  better  know  the  Lord.'" 

h\  a  note  in  the  fourth  volume  of  his  "History  of 
the  Baptists"  Mr.  Ivimey  tells  us  that  he  one  evening 
stepped  into  a  meeting-house  in  London,  where  one  of 
these  hyper-Calvinistic  gentlemen  was  "the  clerk,"  and 

hoard  him  perpetrate  a  somewhat  remarkable  change 
in  some  lines  of  Watts.  The  good  doctor,  speaking  of 
the  kindness  of  God  to  his  people,  wrote, — 

"  And  fixed  my  standing  more  secure 
Than  'twas  before  I  fell." 

The  very  sound  clerk,  however,  changed  it  to, — 

"  And  fixed  my  standing  most  secure 
Tn  Christ  before  I  fell  " 

Possibly  some  of  the  congregation  regarded  this  change 
as  an  improvement;  but  Mr.  Ivimey  asks,  with  some- 
thing like  common  sense,  "If  the  good  man  was  made 
so  secure  before  he  fell,  how  came  he  to  fall  at  all?" 


The  late  eminent  Robert  Hall  used  to  tell  an  amusing 
anecdote  of  a  clerk  of  his  church  in  Leicester.  It  appears 
that  an  unpleasant  feeling  had  for  some  time  existed 
between  the  said  clerk  and  the  choir.    The  dispute  was 


36  1  INFLC  K\«  i:    Of    BTMNfl   OH 

referred  to  .Mr.  Hall,  and  the  clerk  was  dismissed.    Sach, 

however,  was  the  grief  of  the  worthy  official  on  the 
of  his  dignity  that  he  was  soon  after  reinstated  in  office. 
On  the  following  Sabbath  morning  the  honest  precentor 
extorted  an  almost  general  smile  by  commencing  the 
service  with  Dr.  Watts's  version  of  the  Twenty-Seventh 
Psalm,  reading  with  much  emphasis  the  lino. — 

"  Now  shall  my  bead  be  lifted  high 
Above  my  foes  around, 
And  songs  of  joy  and  victory 
Within  thy  temple  sound.*' 

Facts  about  Anthems. — While  speaking  of  hymni 
few  interesting  facts  relating  to  anthems  will  be  perhaps 

acceptable.     In  the  last  century,  the  noble  Count  S , 

of  Hungary,  had  lost,  under  the  most  distressing  circum- 
stances, his  only  child,  a  beautiful  girl,  who  was  on  the 
eve  of  marriage.  Although  two  years  had  elapsed  since 
this  bereavement,  the  unhappy  father  remained  in  the 
most  melancholy  condition.  From  the  hour  when  he 
had  taken  his  last  look  at  the  dead  bod}'  of  his  child,  he 
had  remained  in  the  same  room,  shedding  no  tears 
and  uttering  no  complaints,  but  remaining  in  a  speech- 
less  state  of  despair.  The  most  celebrated  physicians 
had  been  consulted,  and  every  means  which  could  be 
thought  of  used  to  rouse  the  count  from  his  lethargy  of 
grief;  but  all  in  vain,  and  his  physician  became  hope- 
less of  his  recovery. 

Under  these  circumstances,  a   member  of  his  family 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  365 

remembered  to  have  heard  the  distinguished  Elizabeth 
Mara,  for  ten  years  the  first  singer  at  the  Prussian  court, 
eing  some  exquisitely  beautiful  sacred  pieces,  and  became 
impressed  with  the  thought  that,  if  an}'  sound  on  earth 
could  reach  the  heart  which  was  already  buried  in  his 
daughter's  grave,  her  voice,  which  seemed  to  be  that  of 
an  angel  rather  than  of  a  human  being,  would  have  that 
power.  Arrangements  were  at  length  made  for  the  trial ; 
and,  to  give  every  possible  effect  to  the  powers  of  the 
singer,  an  ante-room,  opening  into  that  where  the 
count  sat,  was  prepared.  Mara  stood  alone  in  the  fore- 
ground, yet  in  such  a  position  that  she  could  not  be  seen 
in  the  next  room,  which  wTas  hung  with  black,  and  a 
faint,  shadowy  twilight  only  admitted,  except  a  fewr 
golden  rays  from  a  small  lamp  which  burned  in  a  niche 
before  a  beautiful  Madonna.  Suddenly  upon  the  soli- 
tude and  silence  of  that  sick-room  there  broke  a  won- 
derful harmony.  Elizabeth  had  chosen  Handel's  " 21es- 
siah,"  and  took  her  place,  deeply  moved  by  the  singular 
circumstances  under  which  she  was  called  to  exert  her 
talents. 

At  first  the  music  and  that  heavenly  voice  all  seemed 
to  be  unheeded;  but  by  degrees  the  desolate  parent 
raised  himself  on  his  couch  and  glanced  with  earnest 
longing  toward  the  spot  whence  those  soul-moving 
sounds  proceeded.  At  length,  when  Mara  sung  the 
words,  "Look  and  see  if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  to 
my  sorrow,"  she  appeared  inspired  by  the  sympathy  sho 
felt;  and  the  relatives  of  the  count,  who  listened   with 


oOG  INFLUENCE    Of    Bl  |fN8    ON 

beating  hearts,  could  not  restrain  their  tears.  Nor  did 
these  alone  bear  -witness  to  the  singer's  power:  h< 
sighs  escaped  from  the  sufferer;  large  tears  stood  in 
those  eyes  which  the  very  extremity  of  grief  itself  had 
long  forbidden  to  wee]).  Crossing  the  room  with  feeble 
steps,  he  prostrated  himself  before  the  image  of  that 
Heavenly  One  who  "bore  all  our  griefs;"  and,  when  the 
full  choir  joined  in  the  Hallelujah  Chorus,  his  voice  of 
praise  and  thanksgiving  mingled  with  those  strains. 
The  recovery  was  complete  and  lasting,  and  was  the 
marvel  of  all  Germany. 


A  lady  had  been  in  deep  despondency  for  many  months. 
Her  sins  appeared  so  numerous  and  aggravated  that  she 
dared  not  trust  in  the  promises  of  the  gospel.  These 
promises  seemed  very  precious  for  others,  but  could  not 
avail  for  her.  Conversations  with  her  minister  and  with 
Christian  friends  added  to  her  gloom,  instead  of  dis- 
sipating it.  She  attended  with  great  eagerness  the 
means  of  grace,  read  her  Bible  almost  incessantly  at 
home,  and  withdrew  herself  from  all  gay  companions, 
and  even  from  the  most  innocent  social  enjoyments. 
Her  health  began  to  suffer  from  extreme  depression  of 
spirits,  and  her  friends  were  apprehensive  of  an  early 
death. 

'When  she  heard  that  Jenny  Lind  was  to  visit  the  city 
near  which  she  resided,  her  curiosity  was  excited  to  hear 
her.     She  consulted  her  minister:  and  he  advised  her  to 


PERSONAL    AM)    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS  :.',, 

go  on  the  evening  when  u  The  Messiah"  was  to  be  sung. 
The  rendering  of  those  sublime  passages,  ••  I  know  that 
my  Redeemer  liveth,"  and  "Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 

labor  and  are  heavy  laden/'  by  the  Swedish  songstress, 
quite  overwhelmed  her.  She  was  spell-bound.  The 
words  seemed  clothed  with  a  fulness  of  meaning  she 
bad  never  before  discovered.  The  fitness  of  Jesus  to 
save  Sinners,  and  his  infinite  condescension  and  pity, 
melted  her  heart.  She  wondered  that  she  had  ever  dis- 
trusted him,  and  with  a  childlike  faith  threw  herself  on 
the  promises,  knowing  that  in  her  case  they  would  not 
fail  of  fulfilment.  From  that  hour  her  gloom  vanished, 
and  she  went  forward  in  the  path  of  Christian  duty  with 
a  joyous  and  obedient  heart. 

We  transcribe  another  fact  from  a  letter  of  Dr.  Beattie 
to  Dr.  Laing,  in  1780: — "When  Handel's  'Messiah'  was 
first  performed,  the  audience  were  exceedingly  struck 
and  affected  by  the  music  in  general;  but  when  the 
chorus  struck  up,  '  For  the  Lord  God  omnipotent 
reigneth/  they  were  so  transported  that  they  all,  to- 
gether with  the  king,  [George  III.,]  who  happened  to  be 
present,  started  up,  and  remained  standing  till  the  chorus 
ended;  and  hence  it  became  the  fashion  in  England  for 
the  audience  to  stand  up  while  that  part  of  the  music  is 
performing.  Some  days  after  the  first  exhibition  of  the 
same  divine  oratorio,  Mr.  Handel  came  to  pay  his  re- 
spects to  Lord  Kinnoul,  with  whom  he  was  particularly 
acquainted.  His  lordship,  as  was  natural,  paid  him  some 
compliments  on  the  noble  entertainment  which  he  had 


.'>('» v  INFLUENCE   oi    in  M.N  s   u.N 

lately  given  the  town.  'My  lord/  said  Handel,  'I 
should  be  sorry  if  I  only  entertained  them  :  I  wished  to 
make  them  better.'  " 

It  is  a  Bomewhst  curious  fact  that  on  the  first  per- 
formance of  "The  Messiah"  in  London,  in  1741.  it 
excited  a  very  small  degree  of  attention,  but  soon  after- 
ward in  Dublin  it  called  forth  every  proof  of  the  hi_ 
admiration.  Tins  fact  led  to  a  powerful  and  pathetic 
age  in  " Pope's  Dunciad." 


This  will  not  be  considered  an  inappropriate  place 
to  add  a  few  lines  on  the  feelings  and  habits  of  this, 
one  of  the  greatest  of  human  composers.  Being  once 
inquired  of  as  to  his  ideas  and  emotions  when  writing 
the  "Hallelujah  Chorus,"  he  replied,  in  the  best  English 
he  could  command,  u  I  did  think  I  did  see  heaven  all 
before  me,  and  the  great  God  himself."  It  is  said  that  a 
friend  called  upon  him  when  he  was  setting  to  music  the 
pathetic  words,  "He  was  despised  and  rejected  of  men," 
and  found  him  actually  sobbing.  And  Shield  telle 
that  when  Handel's  servant  used  to  bring  him  in  his 
chocolate  in  the  morning  he  often  stood  in  silent  astonish- 
ment to  see  his  master's  tears  mingling  with  his  ink  as 
he  wrote  his  masterly  works.  Indeed,  it  appears  to 
have  been  usually  the  case  that  during  his  compositions 
his  face  would  be  bathed  in  tears. 


PERSONAL     \M>    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  369 

Another  statement  has  been  given, which  may  properly 
suggest  the  importance  of  cultivating  right  feelings  alike 
in  the  composition  and  the  performance  of  sacred  music. 
Handel  was  once  asked  by  a  friend  why  his  church-music 
was  always  so  cheerful.  His  admirable  reply  was,  "I 
cannot  make  it  otherwise:  I  write  according  to  the 
thoughts  I  feel.  When  I  think  on  God,  my  heart  is  so 
full  of  joy  that  the  notes  dance  and  leap,  as  it  were, 
from  my  penj  and,  since  God  has  given  me  a  cheerful 
heart,  it  will  be  pardoned  me  that  I  serve  him  with  a 
cheerful  and  devout  spirit." 

Handel's  habit  of  composition  was  exceedingly  rapid; 
but  still  the  motion  of  his  pen  could  not  keep  up  with 
the  rapidity  of  his  conceptions.  The  mechanical  power 
of  his  hand  was  not  sufficient  for  the  volcanic  torrent  of 
the  brain.  Novell©,  his  learned  publisher,  who  seems 
to  have  well  studied  the  manuscripts  at  the  Fitzwilliam 
Museum,  in  London,  seeing  a  page  on  which  the  sand  is 
still  upon  the  ink  at  the  top  as  well  as  at  the  bottom  of 
the  page,  left  in  the  book  the  remark,  "  Observe  the 
speed  with  which  Handel  wrote.  The  whole  of  this 
page  is  spotted  with  sand,  and,  consequently,  must  have 
been  all  wet  at  the  same  time." 

Another  fact  or  two  on  this  subject  will  be  permitted. 
A  pious  old  deacon,  who  died  at  Bradford,  in  Xew  Hamp- 
shire, in  1825,  some  years  before  his  decease  attended  a 
meeting  of  the  Musical  Society  of  that  State.  A  very 
large  company  were  assembled  to  rehearse  the  anthem 
u  0  Lord  God  of  Israel"  when  he  entered  the  hall.     The 


oTO  [NFLUENCE    01    HTMN8    ON 

sudden  opening  of  the  door  and  the  burst  of  sound  that 
met  his  ear  nearly  paralyzed  his  whole  frame;  his 
whole  man  trembled,  his  limbs  refused  to  aet,  and  he 
appeared  almost  intoxicated.  A  gentleman,  who  had 
witnessed  the  powerful  effect  of  good  singing  upon  him 
many  years  before,  obtained  him  a  seat;  and,  when  the 
venerable  saint  collected  power  to  sj)eak,  he  broke 
silence  with  the  remark,  "  If  I  cannot  bear  the  com- 
bined yoices  of  a  hundred  singers  here  on  earth,  am  I 
prepared,  and  can  I  bear  the  sound  of  an  innumerable 
multitude  of  yoices  in  heayen,  where  I  soon  hope  to  be  V* 
One  fact  more,  and  we  will  close.  The  late  Key. 
Roger  Harrison,  who  died  in  Connecticut,  in  1853,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four,  once  spent  a  night  at  the  house 
of  the  Key.  Dr.  Cooley,  of  Granyille,  and  at  family  wor- 
ship sang  the  Judgment  Anthem  with  such  thrilling 
effect  that  one  of  the  doctor's  students  sprang  from  his 
chair,  rushed  at  the  singer,  and  was  entirely  bewildered 
for  seyeral  hours. 

Congregational  Singing. — It  would  be  almost  an  act 
of  injustice  were  we  to  omit  a  reference  to  the  general 
excellence  of  the  African  ear  for  singing,  which  is  so  com- 
monly shown  in  many  of  the  ordinary  occurrences  of 
lite  as  to  be  a  frequent  subject  of  remark  in  every  part 
of  our  country.  Indeed,  it  has  been  stated,  apparently 
on  sufficient  grounds,  that  much  of  our  popular  music 
can  be  traced  to  negro  origin. 

But  most  of  all  do  we  love  to  hear  the  hymn-singing 


PERSONAL   AM)   SOCIAL    BAFFIN]  371 

of  the  African  race,  and  entirely  sympathize  with  the 

Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,  who  writes,  "You  know  how  sweetly 
a  congregation  of  plantation-negroes  can  sing  the  songs 

of  Zion.  Tell  me  not  of  city  choirs.  I  would  rather 
hear  <I  am  passing  away,'  or  'Give  me  Jesus,'  sung  as 
We  sometimes  hear  them,  out  of  full  hearts,  byT  hundreds 
of  these  poor  people,  than  their  best  performances.  It 
is  spirit-stirring:  there  are  life  and  soul  in  it." 

Lady  Mary  W.  Montague,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Beattie, 
thus  gives  her  opinion  of  the  influence  of  plain  congre- 
gational singing  on  a  worshipping  assembly  : — "I  think 
psalms  written  with  great  and  noble  simplicity,  and  sung 
in  the  same  manner,  friendly  to  devotion  j  and  it  is 
almost  an  offence  to  call  in  the  aid  of  insensible  and  in- 
animate things  to  praise  the  Giver  of  life  and  reason. 
A  psalm  decently  sung  by  the  congregation  always  ex- 
cites my  devotion  more  than  the  organ.  I  would  em- 
ploy musical  instruments  in  a  pagan  temple,  but  only 
the  voice  of  man  in  a  Christian  church. " 

We  can  easily  imagine  the  scene  presented  at  the 
Music  Hall  in  Surrey  Gardens,  London,  at  one  of  the 
assemblies  of  from  eight  to  ten  thousand  people  wor- 
shipping under  the  guidance  of  the  popular  Charles  H. 
Spurgeon,  as  described  by  one  of  our  countrymen : — 

"  The  prayer  concluded,  Mr.  Spurgeon  announced  the 
well-known  Psalm  beginning, — 

'Before  Jehovah's  awful  throne.' 
He  read  it  through,  having  first  announced  that  the 


l.M  1.1    K.Nf'E    OF    1IV.M.NS    UN 

tunc  would  be  the  '  Old  Hundredth,  and  then  read  each 
verse  separately  before  it  was  sung.  It  is  scarcely  pos- 
sible to  give  any  idea  of  the  sublime  effect  prod  need  by 
those  ten  thousand  voices  as  they  swelled  the  massive 
harmonies  oi*  that  grand  tune  with  a  fulness  of  sound 
rarely  heard.  After  singing  the  second  verse,  Mr.  Spur- 
geon  said,  'I  will  read  the  third  verse,  and  you  will  sing 
the  fourth;  and  let  the  uplifting  of  your  voices  be  as 
the  sound  of  many  waters.'  His  auditory  responded  to 
his  wish.     The  wrords  were, — 

1  "We'll  crowd  thy  gates  with  thankful  songs, 

High  as  the  heavens  our  voices  raise, 
And  earth,  with  her  ten  thousand  tongues, 
Shall  fill  thy  courts  with  sounding  praise.' 

Most  magnificent  was  the  shout  of  praise  that  now  went 
up.  Not  a  voice  was  mute,  save  where  occasionally 
some  one's  nerves  were  overpowered  by  the  massive 
rolling  chorus  that  rose  on  every  side.  Xever  did  we 
before  so  realize  what  congregational  singing  might  be- 
come. It  was  an  uplifting  of  voice  and  heart  such  as 
one  can  hope  to  hear  only  a  few  times  in  the  course  of  a 
life.  Much  of  this  grand  effect  was  no  doubt  owing  to 
the  majesty  of  the  tune  itself, — much  to  the  fact  that  all 
the  congregation  knew  it, — and  perhaps  not  a  little  to 
the  practice  of  reading  each  verse  before  it  was  sung, 
a  practice  we  have  alwa}^s  thought  a  very  reasonable 
one,  and  commonly  adopted  in  England,  especially  among 
1  he  poor  and  those  who  cannot  read." 

Though  this  is  a  striking  instance  of  the  grandeur  of  con- 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  373 

grcgational  singing,  it  was  by  no  means  singular.  Gould 
very  properly  asks,  "  Who  has  ever  attended  a  meet- 
ing of  several  churches,  or  some  religious  anniversary, 
\\ -here  there  were  a  multitude  of  professors  of  religion, 
a  great  proportion  of  whom  are  always  found  able  to  join 
in  singing,  when  they  rise  and  sing  a  hymn  at  the  cele- 
bration of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  has  not  felt  the  power 
of  sacred  music  sung  with  both  the  spirit  and  understand- 
ing ?  How  many  who  have  been  spectators  only  at  the 
time  have  felt  its  power  and  been  led  to  decide  that  it  was 
something  to  them  who  were  passing  by,  and  from  that 
time  realized  that  unless  they  repented  they  never  could 
join  the  angelic  host,  either  on  earth  or  in  heaven !" 

Even  on  occasions  less  solemn  than  these  have  vast 
effects  been  produced  by  singing.  Was  it  not  an  im- 
pressive scene  when,  at  the  collegiate  dinner-table  at 
Andover,  in  1858,  upon  an  unexpected  communication 
being  made  of  the  successful  laying  of  the  telegraphic 
cable,  a  thousand  gentlemen  spontaneously  rose  and,  in 
the  majestic  sounds  of  "  Old  Hundred"  sang  the  fine 
words  of  Bishop  Ken  ? — 

"Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow!" 

And,  on  a  smaller  scale,  intense  must  have  been  the 
feeling  among  a  number  of  converted  sailors  on  board 
the  North  Carolina  in  the  revival  of  1858-59.  They  were 
speaking  of  the  different  countries  in  which  they  were 
born ;  and  it  was  found  that  they  represented  ten  dif- 
ferent nations,  the  last  man  having  said  that  he  was 


374  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

born  in  Greenland.    Unable  to  contain  themselves  longer, 
one  commenced,  and  the  others  followed,  in  the  hymn, — 

"From  Greenland's  icy  mountains," 

which  was  sung  with  delightful  earnestness. 

Churches  in  Scotland. — "We  have  met  with  some 
beautiful  incidents  of  singing  in  the  Scottish  churches. 
They  use  a  metrical  version  of  *  The  Psalms  of  David," 
adopted  in  1650,  and  "  The  Paraphrases/'  which  are  free 
renderings  of  various  parts  of  Scripture,  adopted  in  the 
present  form  in  1781.  The  tunes  in  use  are  nearly  all 
the  old  and  familiar  ones  sung  by  the  Eeformers  and  the 
persecuted  Covenanters,  and  associated  in  the  Scottish 
mind  with  so  much  that  is  tender  and  solemn  in  the 
past.  "So  averse,"  says  Dr.  Jameson,  "are  the  people 
generally  to  innovations  in  these  melodies,  that  when, 
early  in  the  present  century,  a  few  tunes  were  intro- 
duced in  which  one  and  another  of  the  lines  in  a  stanza 
were  sung  twice  over,  numbers  of  the  old  people  refused 
to  join  in  the  praise,  left  the  place  of  worship." 

The  Scottish  children  are  taught  to  commit  to  memory 
many  of  the  psalms  and  paraphrases.  Every  one  can 
sing  the  Twenty-Third  Psalm.  On  a  dark  Sabbath  after- 
noon, more  than  twenty  years  ago,  the  service  in  the 
Eev.  Dr.  Gordon's  church,  in  Edinburgh,  was  drawing 
to  a  close  at  near  four  o'clock,  and  the  gas  had  been 
lighted;  but,  by  some  accident,  the  light  had  become  very 
feeble.     The  minister  could  not  see  to  read  the  hvmn 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  375 

with  which  he  had  intended  to  close  and  simply  said,  "Let 
us  sing  the  Twenty-Third  Psalm."  The  whole  congrega- 
tion, old  and  young,  a  thousand  voices,  united,  amid  the 
flickering  lights,  in  that,  beautiful  composition. 

An  Impressive  Scene. — It  will  scarcely  be  believed  in 
coming  generations  that  many  Christians  in  the  United 
States,  in  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  trans- 
ferred much  of  the  public  singing  of  the  praises  of  God 
in  their  houses  of  worship  to  choirs,  while  the  members 
of  churches  sat  quietly  in  their  pews,  or,  as  a  good  old 
man  in  Boston  expressed  it,  thanking  God  that  the}r 
could  hear  singing,  though  public  opinion  prohibited 
their  joining  in  it.  Some  few  congregations  in  large 
cities  went  even  beyond  this,  and,  at  an  expense  which 
exceeded  the  combined  average  salary  of  four  pastors, 
employed/owr  persons  in  their  singing-gallery — generally 
performers  at  the  opera-houses — to  praise  God  for  them. 
We  attended,  in  1855,  the  dedication  of  a  house  of 
worship  in  one  of  our  largest  cities,  when  one  of  these 
"  Quartets"  entered  on  their  so-called  duties.  A  pro- 
gramme had  been  published,  and  the  first  hymn  was 
duly  "performed  in  fine  style;"  but,  most  unfortunately, 
the  excellent  preacher  required  that  the  second  hymn 
should  be  laid  aside  and  that  an  old  favorite  of  his 
should  be  substituted,  beginning, — 

"  There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood." 
The  "  Quartet"  got  through  the  first  verse  very  grace- 
fully ;  but.  when  the  second  was  begun, — 


376  imi.ii.M'K   01   HTMNfl   01 

"  The  'lying  thief  rejoiced  to  see 
Thai  fountain  in  his  day," 

■  voice  was  heard  here  and  there  in  the  congregation 
"  spoiling  the  music"  by  joining  in  the  singing;  and, 
when  the  third  line  commenced,  all  bounds  were  broken, 
and,  in  a  voice  "like  many  waters,"  the  vast  mass  of 
people,  rising  from  their  seats,  burst  forth, — 

"  Oh,  may  I  there,  though  vile  as  he, 
Wash  all  my  sins  away !" 

No  language  can  describe  the  scene  or  the  feelings  which 
it  inspired.  Some  scientific  gentlemen  spoke  of  it  as  the 
grandest  thing  they  had  ever  witnessed. 

A  Real  Amendment. — The  scene  was  a  small  prayer- 
meeting  of  a  rural  village  church.  Very  few  were  pre- 
sent; for  it  was  a  time  of  much  coldness  and  great 
apparent  decline.  But  a  few  Christian  hearts  even  there 
had  deep  feeling.  Their  strong  emotions  and  prayers 
were  unconfessed  to  each  other,  but  the  object  of  their 
worship  had  observed  them  all.  The  prayer-meeting  was 
going  on  as  usual,  though  the  pastor  was  absent  and 
his  place  was  occupied  by  one  of  the  deacons.  This 
worthy  man  was  plain  in  his  manners,  a  true  son  of  the 
soil,  with  a  bronzed  countenance,  hard  hands,  and  wear- 
ing his  working-dress.  But  with  all  the  earnestness  of 
his  soul  he  had  for  months  past  been  mourning  in  secret 
over  the  desolation  of  the  church.  The  hymn  he  se- 
lected with  which  to  commence  the  service  was  the  one 
often  sung  by  our  fathers  : — 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  377 

"  Hear,  gracious  Sovereign,  from  thy  throne, 
And  send  thy  various  blessings  down." 

Two  or  three  verses  were  sung  to  an  old  tune,  till  the 
good  deacon  came  to  the  last,  which  thus  reads.  The 
reader  will  observe  especially  the  last  two  lines  : — 

"  In  answer  to  our  fervent  cries, 
Give  us  to  see  thy  church  arise ; 
Or,  if  that  blessing  seem  too  great, 
Give  us  to  mourn  its  low  estate." 

While  reading  this  verse,  the  good  man  paused :  it  evi- 
dently did  not  exactly  accord  with  the  feelings  of  his 
soul :  it  was  not  the  expression  of  his  prayer.  He  in- 
dulged a  moment's  thought, — swift  and  excellent :  an 
alteration  suggested  itself, — his  eye  sparkled  with  joy, — 
and  out  it  came  : — 

"  In  answer  to  our  fervent  cries, 
Give  us  to  see  thy  church  arise  : 
That  blessing,  Lord,  is  not  too  great, 
Though  now  we  mourn  its  low  estate.'" 

Every  heart  was  arrested,  and  sudden  emotion  so  over- 
powered all  in  the  little  assembly  that  they  could  scarcely 
sing  the  words ;  but  each  in  silence  gave  to  the  sentiment 
his  own  earnest  amen.  They  happily  proved  it  to  be 
true.  From  that  evening  a  revival  began :  the  church 
arose  from  its  slumber  to  new  faith  and  works;  and 
very  soon  the  windows  of  heaven  were  opened  and  a 
plenitude  of  blessings  was  showered  down,  which  con- 
tinued for  several  years. 


o78    .  IN  FLUE  NCI   Off    HYMNS    <>\ 

Miscellaneous  Facts. — An  aged  clergyman  in  Massa- 
chusetts was,  some  years  since,  preaching  from  the  text, 
"  I  speak  as  to  wise  men  :  judge  ye  what  I  say/'  (1  Cor. 
x.  15,)  when,  having  advanced  as  far  as  "  thirdly,"  he 
observed  that  many  of  his  hearers,  overcome  by  the 
heat  of  the  day,  had  fallen  asleep.  Stopping  in  his  dis- 
course and  wiping  the  perspiration  from  his  forehead, 
he  exclaimed,  "  My  friends,  as  the  day  is  oppressively 
hot,  I  will  stop  a  while  and  request  the  choir  to  sing  the 
tune  t  Coronation'  to  the  words, — 

"My  drowsy  powers,  why  sleep  ye  so  ?'  " 

The  effect  was  electrical,  bringing  the  audience  to  their 
feet.  They  sang  the  hymn :  sleep  was  entirely  driven 
away,  and  the  preacher  resumed  his  discourse  at 
"  thirdly." 


A  very  trivial  affair  led  to  the  dismission  of  a  clergy- 
man. At  one  of  the  meetings  of  the  congregation  the 
pastor  read  the  hymn, — 

"I  love  to  steal  a  while  away," 

and  the  chorister  commenced  singing,  but,  forgetting 
the  tune,  could  proceed  no  further  than  "  I  love  to  steal," 
which  he  did  several  times, — when  the  clergyman,  some- 
what smilingly,  relieved  him  from  the  dilemma  by  say- 
ing, "It  is  very  much  to  be  regretted,"  and  adding, 
"  Let  us  pray." 


PERSONAL   AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  379 

It  is  said  that  in  1785  the  vestry  of  Christ  Church, 
Philadelphia,  gravely  determined  "  that  the  clerks  be 
required  to  sing  such  tunes  only  as  are  plain  and  familiar 
to  the  congregation,  and  that  the  singing  of  other  tunes, 
and  the  frequent  changing  of  tunes,  arc  deemed  dis- 
agreeable and  inconvenient." 

It  may  at  least  excite  a  harmless  smile  to  be  told 
that  a  good  old  lady,  a  member  of  Dr.  John  Gill's  church 
in  London,  once  waited  on  her  venerable  pastor  to 
complain  about  "the  new-fangled  notions"  which  had 
got  among  the  congregation  about  singing.  The  good 
doctor  was  anxious,  if  possible,  to  calm  her  agitated 
spirit, — which  he  found  was  no  easy  matter.  At  length 
he  asked  her  what  tunes  she  would  wish  to  have  sung, 
and  the  venerable  lady  replied,  with  avidity,  "  1  want  Da- 
vid's tunes  sung,  sir."  "  So  do  I,"  said  the  worthy  pastor, 
"  but  most  unfortunately  they  have  been  lost ;  but  I  will 
give  you  my  promise  that,  as  soon  as  they  can  be  found 
again,  we  will  sing  David's  tunes  and  no  others."  The 
good  lady,  it  is  said,  went  away  considerably  relieved  by 
her  pastor's  promise. 

A  Private  Circle. — Charles  Butler,  in  his  very  in- 
teresting letter  on  ancient  and  modern  music,  introduces 
the  following  anecdote,  relating  to  Mara,  an  Italian 
vocalist : — 

"  Once,  in  a  private  society,  in  consequence  of  some- 
thing that  fell  in  conversation,  she  sang,  without  any 
accompaniment,  the  simple  air,  in  Mareello's  Psalms,  'In 


380  I.MI-I   BNOI    Of    HYMNS    ON 

my  distress  I  called  upon  Jehovah,  and  be  did  hear  me/ 
with  such  exquisite  taste  and  pathos  that  she  entranced 
every  hearer.  To  our  infinite  gratification,  she  repeated 
it  half  a  dozen  times,  and  every  time  more  beautifully  and 
impressively  than  before.  A  person,  observing  that  there 
was  a  violoncello  in  the  room,  requested  that  she  would 
permit  the  late  Mr.  Paxton,  who  was  present,  to  accom- 
pany her.  This  was  done.  It  was  fine, — very  fine;  but  the 
charm  was  lost.  This  little  circumstance,"  says  Butler, 
"may  be  thought  to  strengthen  Eousseau's  hypothesis, — 
'that  harmony  is  unnatural,  and  rather  weakens  than  in- 
creases the  effect  of  simple  melody.'  Mara  was  particularly 
distinguished  by  the  manner  in  which  she  sung,  '  I  know 
that  my  Eedeemer  liveth/  It  was  beyond  singing :  it 
was  eloquence.  She  opened  it  with  great  solemnity; 
hope  was  discernible, — but  it  was  only  the  dawn  of  hope. 
As  she  proceeded,  it  brightened  and  expanded;  but 
when  she  came  to  the  last  repetition  of  the  sentence,  the 
firm  and  animated  confidence  with  which  she  uttered 
the  words  '  I  know/  and  the  jubilation  of  soul  with  which 
she  pronounced  the  words  'and  in  my  flesh  I  shall  see 
God/  no  language  can  adequately  tell.  The  audience 
thought  not  of  the  air.  or  of  the  band,  or  even  of  the 
singer :  they  only  felt  the  sentiment;  and  they  felt  it  in 
all  its  sublimity." 

A  Vast  Crowd. — Few  events  in  English  history  will 
ever  be  invested  with  a  more  touching  interest  than  the 
fact   that  at   the  inauguration  of  a  beautiful  park  and 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  08 1 

public  hall  secured  for  the  use  of  the  working-classes  of 
Birmingham, in  the  year  1858,  forty-seven  thousand  Sunday- 
school  children  sang  a  hymn  in  the  presence  of  her  majesty 
Queen  Victoria.  The  account  given  by  a  public  reporter 
may  be  read  with  more  than  common  pleasure.  We  give  a 
short  extract : — "  Each  section  had  its  musical  conductor, 
armed  with  a  long  white  wand  by  way  of  baton,  and 
assisted  by  a  drummer  and  two  cornets, — the  first  to  give 
the  little  singers  the  signal  to  begin,  and  the  latter  to 
play  over  the  simple  music  of  this  wonderful  child-con- 
cert. As  her  majesty  passed,  they  sang,  in  a  low,  gentle 
manner, — almost  seraphic, — a  hymn,  which  moved  the 
royal  lady  and  thousands  of  others  even  to  tears." 

Anniversary  at  Andover. — Perhaps  one  of  the  most 
interesting  and  touching  incidents  connected  with  the 
history  of  singing  occurred,  at  the  separation  from  each 
other  of  thirty  students,  at  the  Andover  Theological 
Seminary  in  1832.  A  question  was  proposed  by  a  single 
finely-toned  voice  from  the  orchestra,  and  a  response 
was  made  from  the  stage  on  which  the  graduated  class 
stood, — first  by  the  Foreign  Missionaries,  then  by  the 
Domestic  Missionaries,  and  finally  by  the  Home  Preachers: 
then  followed  the  chorus  from  the  whole.  The  reader 
will  be  gratified  to  have  the  whole  hymn  before  him: — 

Question. — "And  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  say- 
ing, Whom  shall  I  send,  and  who  will  go  for  us?" — 
Isa.  vi.  8. 


382  [NFLUENOE    Of    HYMNS    ON 


Foreign  Missionaries. 

From  dear  New  England's  happy  shore, 

Where  all  our  kindred  dwell, 
"We  go, — on  pagans  light  to  pour : 

Our  native  land,  farewell! 

Question. — "And  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying, 
Whom  shall  I  send,  and  who  will  go  for  us  ?" 

Domestic  Missionaries. 

We  go  where  seldom  on  the  ear 

Salvation's  tidings  swell : 
We  go  to  dry  the  mourner's  tear : 

Our  pleasant  home,  farewell. 

Question. — "And  I  heard  the  voice  of  the  Lord,  saying, 
Whom  shall  I  send,  and  who  will  go  for  us  ?" 

Home  Preachers. 

Where  all  our  earthly  friendships  blend, 

Of  Jesus'  love  we'll  tell, 
And  in  the  work  our  lives  will  spend : 

Brethren,  a  short  farewell. 

Chorus. 
From  all  these  cherished  scenes  we  go, — 

The  home  of  praise  and  prayer, — 
To  meet  earth's  gladness  or  earth's  woe, 

And  many  a  toil  to  bear. 

Farewell,  ye  friends  who  shared  our  joy, 

Ye  in  whose  hearts  we  dwell : 
A  noble  work  shall  now  employ 

Our  energies.     Farewell ! 


PERSONAL    AND    SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  383 

Brethren,  we  press  the  parting  hand: 

Our  songs  of  parting  tell : 
Then,  till  we  reach  heaven's  holy  land, 

A  sweet  but  brief  farewell! 

The  whole  presented  an  extraordinary  scene. 

The  audience  felt  that  it  was  not  a  mere  show, — not 
an  exhibition  of  musical  skill.  The  tones  in  which  the 
hymn  was  sung  were  those  of  deep  emotion  j  and  many 
hearts  were  melted  as  these  young  servants  of  Christ 
poured  forth  their  impassioned  farewell, — some  of  them 
to  the  scene  of  their  sacred  studies,  others  to  the  pleasant 
hills  and  valleys  and  churches  of  New  England,  and 
others  to  all  the  endearments  of  their  native  land. 

The  Missionary's  Landing. — Deeply  do  we  sympa- 
thize with  an  honored  missionary  who  writes  a  narra- 
tive now  before  us  of  his  first  arrival,  with  fifteen  other 
missionaries  and  their  wives,  on  a  foreign  shore,  where 
the  best  years  of  his  life  were  devoted  to  labors  for  the 
conversion  of  the  heathen;  and  most  heartily  do  we  pity 
the  reader  who  can  suppose  that  singing  such  a  hymn 
under  such  circumstances  produced  no  happy  or  lasting 
effect,  or  who  can  even  read  the  fact  without  emotion. 
Our  friend  says, — 

"  To  prepare  for  landing  was  all  our  care.  Soon  we 
were  delighted  to  see  some  of  the  ' Mission  Family/  as 
we  found  the  whole  of  the  Baptist  missionary  brother- 
hood were  termed.  But  our  first  tidings  were  sad.  One 
dear  brother  had  just  been  laid  in  his  grave.     To  some 


384  INFLUENCE    OF    HYMNS    ON 

of  us  how  appropriate  a  memento  was  this!  In  little 
more  than  half  a  year  two  of  our  affectionate  party  were 
also  in  their  graves. 

"  We  landed,  singing  Addison's  hymn, — 

'  How  are  thy  servants  blest,  0  Lord,' 

every  word  of  which  went  to  our  hearts  and  seemed 
from  thence  to  arise  to  God.  With  many  tears  that 
hymn  was  sung;  and  well  did  the  last  verse  bring  us  to 
the  shore : — 

'Our  life,  whilst  thou  preserv'st  that  life, 
Thy  sacrifice  shall  be, 
And  death,  when  death  shall  be  our  lot, 
Shall  join  our  souls  to  thee.' 

"With  most  hearty  greetings  were  we  welcomed  to 
that  shore.  Every  one  present  seemed  to  vie  with  every 
other  in  expressing  gladness  and  gratitude  and  praise 
to  our  God.  What  eagerness  was  there  to  get  one  grasp 
of  the  hand  and  to  speak  or  to  hear  but  one  word  with 
the  ' new  massas'  and  the  ' new  ladies'! " 

Such  is  the  account  given  by  the  Eev.  P.  H.  Cornford, 
an  English  Baptist  missionary,  of  the  landing  of  him- 
self and  a  missionary  party  on  the  island  of  Jamaica 
in  January,  1841. 

From  another  source  we  learn  that  the  missionaries 
and  their  friends  did  not  monopolize  the  whole  of  the 
singing.  Mr.  Hinton  tells  us,  "  As  soon  as  their  voices 
had  ceased,  their  African  brethren  and  sisters  struck  up 


PERSONAL    AM)   SOCIAL    HAPPINESS.  >85 

a  few  verses  of  affectionate  welcome 
which  had  been  written  for  the  occasion." 

Officers  of  the  British  Navy. — That  singing  the 
high  praises  of  God  has  sometimes  a  salutary  influence 
on  unconverted  men  was  clearly  proved  during  the  War 
of  1812,  in  the  case  of  the  late  eminently  worthy  Deacon 
Epa  Norris,  who  lived  and  died  in  the  Northern  Neck, — 
the  peninsula  formed  by  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the 
Rappahannock  and  Potomac  Rivers  in  Virginia.  During 
the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain, 
this  excellent  man  was  taken  prisoner,  hurried  on  board, 
and  required  to  give  information  as  to  the  strength  and 
position  of  the  American  forces.  He  told  his  inquirers 
that  he  did  not  read  the  papers  and  had  very  little 
knowledge  of  national  affairs,  but  that  if  he  had  the 
knowledge  they  desired  he  would  suffer  death  before  he 
would  communicate  it  to  them.  By  degrees  the  officers 
became  convinced  that  he  was  an  honest  and  unsophisti- 
cated man,  and  admired  his  patriotism  and  heroic  firm- 
ness. The  commandant  of  the  ship  gave  a  dinner  to  the 
officers  of  the  fleet,  and  did  Mr.  Norris  the  honor  to 
select  him  from  the  American  prisoners  of  war  to  be  a 
guest.  The  deacon,  in  his  homespun  attire,  took  his  seat 
at  the  table  with  the  aristocracy  of  the  British  navy. 
The  company  sat  long  at  the  feast :  they  drank  toasts, 
told  stories,  laughed  and  sang  songs.  At  length  Mr. 
Norris  was  called  on  for  a  song.  He  desired  to  excuse 
himself,  but  in  vain  :  he  must  sing.    He  possessed  a  fine, 

33 


386  IMI.I  jack    01    HYMNS   ON 

strong,  musical  voice,  which  bad  been  improved  by  - 

ing  simple  and  plain  tunes.  In  an  appropriate  and 
beautiful  air,  he  commenced  singing  the  Ninety-Second 
Psalm  of  Watts  :— 

"Sweet  is  the  work,  my  God,  my  Kirg, 
To  praise  thy  name,  give  thanks,  and  sing.* 

Thoughts  of  home  and  of  his  lost  religious  privileges, 
and  of  his  captivity,  imparted  an  unusual  pathos  and 
power  to  his  singing.  One  stanza  of  the  excellent  psalm 
must  have  seemed  peculiarly  pertinent  to  the  occasion : — 

"  Fools  never  raise  their  thoughts  so  high  : 
Like  brutes  they  live,  like  brutes  they  die ; 
Like  grass  they  flourish,  till  thy  breath 
Blast  them  in  everlasting  death." 

AVhen  the  singing  ceased,  a  solemn  silence  ensued.  At 
length  the  commandant  broke  it  by  saying,  "Mr.  Xorris, 
you  are  a  good  man,  and  shall  return  immediately  to 
your  family."  The  commodore  kept  his  word;  for  in  a  few 
days  Mr.  Xorris  was  sent  ashore  in  a  barge,  with  a  hand- 
some present  of  salt, — then  more  valuable  in  the  country 
than  gold. 

Xew  York  Merchants. — Xot  long  since,  a  newsboy 
in  New  York  was  heard  crying,  "'  Bank-Note  Reporter,' 
sir?  Three  more  banks  down!"  The  little  fellow  had 
not  known  half  a  score  years,  but  his  eyes  were  bright, 
his  tongue  fluent,  and  his  manners  attractive.  Stepping 
into  a  counting-house,  with  his  bundle  of  papers  under 


PERSONAL    AM)    SOCIAL    IIAIM'IN  KSS.  387 

his  arm,  he  Baw  two  gentlemen  sitting  in  front  of  a  fire, 
engaged  in  trilling  conversation,  and  proposed  to  one  of 
them  his  inquiry,  " Bank-Note  Reporter,  sir?" 

"No,"  replied  one  of  the  gentlemen  :  "we  don't  want 
any.  But  stop  !  if  you  will  sing  us  a  song  we  will  buy 
one  of  your  Reporters." 

The  boy  agreed  to  the  terms,  and  the  gentlemen,  with 
an  air  which  showed  that  they  anticipated  sport,  placed 
the  little  fellow  on  a  high  stool  and  told  him  to  proceed  to 
sing.  They  evidently  expected  to  hear  some  jovial  song, 
— when,  to  their  astonishment,  he  began  the  beautiful 
hymn,— 

"I  think,  when  I  read  that  sweet  story  of  old, 
When  Jesus  was  here  among  men, 
How  he  called  little  children  the  lambs  of  his  fold, 
I  should  like  to  have  been  with  them  then." 

The  effect  upon  his  listeners  was  at  once  perceptible, 
and  before  he  had  sung  through  the  four  verses  they 
were  both  in  tears.  When  he  had  finished,  one  of  the 
gentlemen  inquired,  "  Where  did  you  learn  that  hymn  V* 
"At  Sabbath-school,"  replied  the  boy. 

The  reader  will,  of  course,  expect  to  hear  that  the 
gentlemen  purchased  the  "Reporter"  and  will  not  be 
sorry  to  learn  that,  in  addition  to  this,  they  presented 
him  with  a  sum  of  money,  and  after  they  had  obtained 
his  name  and  residence  they  allowed  him  to  go  on  his 
way.  Is  there  nothing  to  move  and  improve  the  heart 
even  in  the  singing  of  a  child  ? 


IM  l.i  I.M  B    01     B1  MNfi 

lilSCELLANSOl  8. — Two  of  OUT  modem  DOetfl  have  n. 

an  admirable  use  of  the  story  of  Damocles,  as  told  by 
Cicero.  Damocles  waa  one  of  the  flatterers  of  Dionyi 
the  monarch  of  Sicily,  who  died  three  hundred  and  sixty- 
eight  years  before  the  Christian  era.  lie  admired  the 
wealth  and  grandeur  of  that  sovereign  and  pronounced 
him  the  happiest  man  on  earth.  Dionywus,  wishing  to 
correct  his  views,  prevailed  on  him  to  undertake  for  a 
time  the  charge  and  the  duties  of  royalty.  Damocles 
consented;  and,  having  ascended  the  throne,  he  gazed 
with  delight  on  the  splendor  and  luxury  by  which  he  was 
surrounded.  But  he  soon  perceived  a  sword  suspended 
by  a  horse-hair  directly  over  his  head.  This  spoiled  all 
his  enjoyment;  and  he  speedily  hogged  permission  to 
relinquish  so  dangerous  a  position. 

The  Eev.  Joseph  Stennett,  in  his  paraphrase  of  Proverbs 
xiv.  9.  thus  alludes  to  the  fact: — 

"  Who  laughs  at  sin  laughs  at  his  Maker's  Crowns, 
Laughs  at  the  sword  of  vengeance  o'er  his  head." 

And  Charles  Wesley,  in  one  of  his  hymns.  Bays, — 

"  Show  me  the  naked  sword 
Impending  o'er  my  head." 


The  celebrated  William  Byrd,  the  author  of  "Nbn  / 
Domine,"  gave  the  following  very  forcible  reasons  for 
learning  to  sing,  in  a   scarce  work  published  in   I 
entitled   u  Psahns,   Sonnets,   and  Songs  of  Sadness  and 
Pietie. 


PERSONAL   AND    80CIA1    BAPPIN] 

"  First,  It  is  a  knowledge  easilie  taughl  and  quickly 
Learned,    when    there    i>   a  good    master    and    an    api 

lar. 
"Secondly,  The   exercise  of  Binging  ifi  delightful  to 

nature  and  good  to  preserve  the  health  of  man. 

"  Thirdly,  It  doth  strengthen  all  parts  of  the  heart,  and 
doth  open  the  pipes. 

"  Fourthly,  It  is  a  singular  good  reraedie  for  a  stuttering 
and  stammering  in  the  speech. 

"  Fifthly,  It  is  the  best  means  to  preserve  a  perfect  pro- 
nunciation and  to  make  a  good  orator. 

"Sixthly,  It  is  the  only  way  to  know  when  Nature  hath 
bestowed  a  good  voice, — which  gift  is  so  rare  that  there 
is  not  one  amongst  a  thousand  that  hath  it;  and  in  many 
that  excellent  gift  is  lost  because  they  want  an  art  to  ex- 
press nature. 

"Seventhly,  There  is  not  any  music  of  instruments 
whatsoever  comparable  to  that  which  is  made  of  men's 
voices  when  the  voices  are  good  and  the  same  well 
sorted  and  ordered. 

"Eighthly,  The  better  the  voice  is,  the  meeter  it  is  to 
honor  and  serve  God  therewith;  and  the  voice  of  man  is 
chiefly  to  be  emplo}-ed  to  that  end." 


FIRST  LINES  OF  HYMNS  REFERRED  TO  IN  THIS  VOLUME. 


PAGE 

Affliction  is  a  stormy  deep  117 

Again  we  lift  our  voice 286 

Ah  !  lovely  appearance  of  death 346 

All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name 219,  221,  222,  224 

All  people  that  on  earth  do  dwell 66,  243 

Alone,  yet  not  alone,  am  1 331,  332 

Am  I  a  soldier  of  the  cross 263 

And  are  ye  wretches  yet  alive 53 

And  will  the  great  eternal  God 138 

As  I  glad  bid  adieu  to  the  world's  fancied  pleasure 317 

Asleep  in  Jesus  !  blessed  sleep 190 

Awake,  and  sing  the  song 163 

Awaked  by  Sinai's  awful  sound 213 

Awake,  my  soul,  in  joyful  lays 194 

Awake,  my  soul,  to  meet  the  day 139 

Before  Jehovah's  awful  throne 62,  371 

Behold  a  stranger  at  the  door 161 

Behold  the  glories  of  the  Lamb 258 

Behold  the  Saviour  of  mankind 289 

Behold  the  western  evening  light 217 

Behold  where  in  a  mortal  form 146 

Beyond  the  glittering,  starry  sky 251 

Blessed  are  the  sons  of  God 174 

Blessed  Saviour,  thee  I  love 142 

Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 147 

Blest  hour,  when  mortal  man  retires 228 

By  faith  we  find  the  place  above...  277 

3  9  I 


392  FHL8T    LINES    01    HTM! 

PAGE 

here  longer  to  detain  me 

Children  of  God,  who  faint  and  alow 

Children  of  the  heavenly  King 112 

-     leads  me  through  no  dark  

IT  hearts  are  warm 

.  dearest  Lord,  and  feed  thy  sheep 

Come,  Desire  of  nations,  come 271 

Come,  Father,  Son.  and  Holy  Ghost 

Come,  gracious  Spirit,  heavenly  Dore 

Come,  Holy  Spirit,  heavenly  Dore 

Come,  humble  sinner,  in  whose  breast 170 

Come,  let  our  voices  join 1"J 

Come,  let  us  join  our  friends  above 

Come,  0  my  soul,  in  joyful  lays 91 

Come,  0  thou  all-victorious  Lord 

Come,  thou  Almighty  King 351 

Come,  thou  Fount  of  every  blessing 229 

Come,  thou  soul-transforming  Spirit 17o 

Come,  ye  disconsolate,  where'er  ye  languish 203 

Come,  ye  souls  by  sin  afflicted 244 

Creator  Spirit,  by  whose  aid 113,  141 

Dear  Friend  of  friendless  sinners,  hear 172 

Dear  is  the  hallowed  morn  to  me 128 

Depth  of  mercy  !  can  there  be 302 

Far  from  the  world,  0  Lord,  I  flee 121 

Father  of  spirits,  hear  our  prayer 94 

Flow  fast,  my  tears,  thy  cause  is  great.. .... 

From  dear  New  England's  happy  shore 

From  every  earthly  pleasure 131 

From  Greenland's  icy  mountains 167, 

From  heaven  aloud  the  angelic  song  began 2 

From  whence  does  this  union  arise 78 

Give  me  the  enlarged  desire -- 

Give  me  the  wings  of  faith,  to  rise 

Give  to  the  winds  thy  fears loG 

Glory  to  God,  whose  Borereign  grace 


FIRST    LINES    01    HYMNS.  393 

PACE 

God  and  the  Saviour's  grace  proclaim 20  1 

God  is  in  this  and  every  place 285 

God  moves  in  a  mysterious  way 119 

God  of  my  life,  and  of  my  choice 85 

Go,  preach  the  blest  salvation 144 

Go  to  the  grave  in  all  thy  glorious  prime 202 

Great  God,  in  vain  man's  narrow  view 185 

Great  God  of  all  thy  churches,  hear 184 

Great  God  of  heaven  and  nature,  rise 138 

Great  God  of  wonders,  all  thy  ways 130 

Great  God,  the  nations  of  the  earth 253 

Great  King  of  glory,  come 152 

Guide  me,  0  thou  Great  Jehovah 294 

Hail,  Father,  whose  creating  call 290 

Hail,  God  the  Son,  in  glory  crowned 290 

Hail,  mighty  Jesus,  how  divine 252 

Hail,  sovereign  love,  which  first  began 96 

Hail,  sweetest,  dearest  tie  that  binds 241 

Hail,  thou  once-despised  Jesus 77 

Hark,  in  the  wilderness  a  cry 235 

Hark,  the  Eternal  rends  the  sky 357 

Hark,  the  voice  of  love  and  mercy 146 

Have  mercy  on  me,  Lord,  I  pray 349 

Hear,  gracious  Sovereign,  from  thy  throne 377 

Hearken  to  the  solemn  voice 280 

Hear,  Lord,  the  song  of  praise  and  prayer 125 

He  dies,  the  Friend  of  sinners  dies 63 

He  lives  who  lives  to  God  alone 123 

Holy  and  reverend  is  the  name 205 

Holy  be  this  as  was  the  place 245 

How  are  thy  servants  blest,  0  Lord 384 

How  blest  thy  creature  is,  0  God 120 

How  fine  has  the  day  been,  how  bright  was  the  sun 266 

How  firm  a  foundation,  ye  saints  of  the  Lord 186 

How  happy  is  the  pilgrim's  lot 288 

How  pleasant  'tis  to  see 335 

How  sweet  the  name  of  Jesus  sounds 86 


394  first  limes  of  hymns. 

PAGE 

How  vain  are  all  things  here  below 261 

How  weak  the  thoughts,  and  vain _7_: 

If  e'er  you  meet  with  trials 820 

If  human  kindness  meets  return 210 

If  I  must  die,  oh,  let  me  die 83 

If  life's  pleasures  charm  thee 183 

I  love  thy  church,  0  God 1  18 

I  love  to  steal  a  while  away '.»7,  378 

In  all  my  Lord's  appointed  ways 

Infinite  God,  to  thee  we  raise 141, 

In  the  cross  of  Christ  I  glory 

In  the  floods  of  tribulation 218 

I  think,  when  I  read  that  sweet  story  of  old 387 

It  is  the  Lord,  enthroned  in  light 161 

I  would  not  live  alway,  I  ask  not  to  stay 52,  2<J4 

Jerusalem,  my  happy  home 182,  133 

Jesus,  and  shall  it  ever  be 57,  161 

Jesus  can  make  a  dying  bed 325 

Jesus,  from  thy  heavenly  place 283 

Jesus,  full  of  all  compassion 231 

Jesus,  I  love  thy  charming  name 86,  136 

Jesus,  I  my  cross  have  taken 190 

Jesus,  in  sickness  and  in  pain 154 

Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul 321,  321 

Jesus,  my  all,  to  heaven  is  gone 112 

Jesus,  the  very  thought  of  thee 86 

Jesus,  thou  art  the  sinner's  friend 106 

Jesus,  thy  blood  and  righteousness Ill 

Jesus,  we  lift  our  souls  to  thee -U'2 

Just  as  I  am,  without  one  plea 141 

Learn  we  now  that  wondrous  strain 2'>0 

Let  every  heart  rejoice  and  sing 255 

Let  others  boast  their  ancient  line 127 

Let  the  Most  Blessed  be  my  guide 104 

Let  the  old  heathen  tune  their  songs 321 

Let  us  awake  our  joys 184 


FIRST    LINES    OF    QTHNS.  o9.") 

PAOE 

Let  Zion's  watchmen  all  awake 187 

Long  have  I  seemed  to  serve  thee,  Lord 

Lo,  he  comes,  with  clouds  descending  214,  215 

Lord,  dismiss  us  with  thy  blessing 104 

Lord,  lead  the  way  the  Saviour  went  1-7 

Lord  of  the  Sabbath,  hear  our  vows 136 

Lord,  teach  a  little  child  to  pray 233 

Lord,  we  are  blind,  we  mortals  blind 340 

Lord,  we  come  before  thee  now 163 

Loving  Shepherd,  kind  and  true 74 

Mercy,  good  Lord,  mercy  I  ask 194 

Mid  scenes  of  confusion  and  creature  complaints 131 

Mighty  God,  while  angels  bless  thee 229,  231,  339 

Mortals,  awake,  with  angels  join 194 

My  drowsy  powers,  why  sleep  ye  so 378 

My  faith  looks  up  to  thee 217 

My  God,  I  thank  thee  :  may  no  thought 211 

My  God,  thy  service  well  demands 137 

My  gracious  Redeemer  I  love 151 

My  Sabbath  suns  may  all  have  set 103 

My  thoughts  on  awful  subjects  roll 334 

No  longer  I  follow  a  sound 124 

No  room  for  mirth  or  trifling  here 311 

Not  all  the  blood  of  beasts 318,  326 

Not  worlds  on  worlds  in  phalanx  deep 159 

Now  begin  the  heavenly  theme 186 

Now  from  the  altar  of  our  hearts 193 

Now  let  our  mourning  hearts  revive 137 

Now  that  the  sun  is  gleaming  bright 27 

O'er  the  gloomy  hills  of  darkness 294 

O'er  the  realms  of  pagan  darkness 116 

Oft  have  we  passed  the  guilty  night 280 

Oh  for  a  closer  walk  with  God 119 

Oh  for  a  thousand  tongues  to  sing 282 

Oh  for  the  happy  hour 90 

O  holy,  holy,  holy  Lord 144 


HRST    LINKS    OF    I1V.M 

PAOl 

O  God  of  Jacob,  by  whose  hand 

()  head  so  full  of  bruises 87 

Oh,  what  hath  Jesus  bought  lor  me 334 

o  Lord,  thy  heavenly  grace  imparl 211 

()  love  divine,  how  sweet  thou  art :;  15 

Oh,  most  delightful  hour  by  man 123 

Oh,  tell  me  no  more  of  this  world's  vain  store 155 

On  that  great,  that  awful  day Ill 

Our  country's  voice  is  pleading 76 

0  thou  from  whom  all  goodness  flows 

()  thou,  my  soul,  forget  no  more lilt) 

0  Zion,  afflicted  with  wave  upon  wave 160 

Faschal  Lamb,  by  God  appointed 77 

Peace,  my  soul,  thou  needst  not  fear 333 

Praise  God,  from  whom  all  blessings  flow 17 

Prepare  us,  gracious  God 145 

Remember  thee,  remember  Christ 

Return,  0  wanderer,  return 115 

Rock  of  ages,  cleft  for  me 248,  250 

Savior,  breathe  an  evening  blessing 341 

See  how  great  a  flame  aspires _-_ 

See  the  leaves  around  us  falling 174 

Servant  of  God,  well  done 201 

Shepherd  of  Israel,  bend  thine  ear 137 

Show  pity,  Lord,  0  Lord,  forgive 307 

Shrinking  from  the  cold  hand  of  death 286 

Since  all  the  varying  scenes  of  time 171 

Sinners,  will  you  scorn  the  message 75 

Sleep  safe,  0  wave-worn  mariner 

Softly  fades  the  twilight  ray 237 

Source  of  light  and  power  divine 

Spirit,  leave  thy  house  of  clay 200 

Stand,  the  omnipotent  decree 276 

Stand  up,  stand  up  for  Jesus 142 

Stop,  poor  sinner,  stop  and  think 301 

Sweet  as  the  shepherd's  tuneful  reed 2-j5 


FIRST    LINKS    OE    HYMNS.  397 

PAQE 

Sweet  is  the  work,  my  God,  my  King 38G 

Sweet  the  moments,  rich  in  blessing 81 

Tell  me  not,  in  mournful  numbers 188 

Thattbiy  of  wrath,  that  dreadful  day 110 

The  fabric  of  nature  is  fair 218 

The  flowers  of  fifty  summers  gone 201 

The  God  of  Abraham  praise 214 

The  great  archangel's  trump  shall  sound 285 

The  Lord  of  Sabbath  let  us  praise 290 

The  morning  flowers  display  their  sweets 290 

There  is  a  Fountain  filled  with  blood , 324 

There  is  a  happy  land 314 

There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight 262 

There  is  an  hour  of  hallowed  peace 245 

There  is  a  region  lovelier  far 250 

The  sorrows  of  the  mind 319 

The  voice  of  free  grace  cries,  Escape  to  the  mountain 324 

The  waters  of  Bethesda's  pool 80 

They  pass  refreshed  the  thirsty  vale , 196 

Thou  art  the  Way,  to  thee  alone 134 

Though  all  the  world  my  choice  deride 247 

Thou  God  of  glorious  majesty 60,  274 

Thou  God  of  love,  thou  ever-blest 350 

Thou  hidden  love  of  God,  whose  height 247,  287 

Thou,  O  my  Jesus,  thou  didst  me 297 

'Tis  midnight,  and  on  Olive's  brow 245 

To  Jesus,  the  crown  of  my  hope 125 

To  thee,  thou  high  and  lofty  One 216 

Vital  spark  of  heavenly  flame 225,  226 

Wake,  Isles  of  the  South,  your  redemption  is  near 245 

We  come  to  the  Fountain,  we  stand  by  the  wave 91 

Well,  the  Redeemer's  gone 339 

When  Abraham's  servant,  to  procure 233 

When,  as  returns  this  solemn  day 79 

When  gathering  clouds  around  I  view 158 

When  Jesus  dwelt  in  mortal  clav 157 

54 


398  1IRST    LINKS    OF    IIYM 

PAOB 

When  Jordan  hushed  his  waters  still 107 

"When,  marshalled  on  the  nightly  plain  291,   329 

When  on  my  sick-bed  I  languish 226 

When  thou,  my  righteous  Judge,  shalt  come 343 

When  torn  is  the  bosom  by  sorrow  or  care 189 

"Where  high  the  heavenly  temple  stands 187 

Where  two  or  three  together  meet 182 

While  on  the  verge  of  life  I  stand 140 

Why  dost  thou,  tyrant,  boast  thyself 349,  350 

Why  do  we  mourn  departing  friends 359 

Woe  to  the  men  on  earth  who  dwell 277 

Worship,  and  thanks,  and  blessing 280,  282 

Would  you  win  a  soul  to  God 163 

Ye  dying  sons  of  men 92 

Yes,  my  native  land,  I  love  thee...., 237,  322 


INDEX. 


Actress,  an  English,  302. 

Adams,  Rev.  John:  anecdote  of,  350. 

Adams,  Sarah  F. :  hymns  and  other  writings  by,  73. 

Addison,  Joseph :  sketch  of  his  life,  works,  and  hymns,  73  ;  death 

and  character,  74. 
Allen,  Rev.  James :  hymn  by,  early  life,  persecution,  75. 
Alterations  of  hymns  censured,  57  ;  sometimes  valuable,  62. 
Amendment,  a  real,  376. 

Ancient  hymns  the  conservatives  of  truth,  29. 
Ancient  Lyre,  order  for,  50. 

Anderson,  Mrs.  G.  W.  :  sketch  of  and  hymns  by,  76. 
Angelus,  Christopher:  origin,  studies,  and  hymn,  74. 
Anniversary  at  Andover,  381. 
Anthems,  facts  about,  364. 
Augustine:  influence  of  singing  on  his  heart,  26. 

Bacon,  Rev.  L.,  D.D. :  character  of  his  hymns,  sketch  of  his  life,  and 
remarkable  escape  of,  76. 

Bakewell,  Rev.  John:  hymn  by,  sketch  of,  and  his  long  life,  77. 

Baldwin,  Rev.  T.,  D.D. :  union  hymn  by,  life  and  character  of,  78. 

Baptist  General  Assembly  of  1692:  their  counsel  on  singing,  32. 

Barbauld,  Anna  L. :  connected  with  the  English  Unitarians,  decease, 
early  instructed  by  Doddridge,  79. 

Barton,   Bernard :    early  bereavement  of,   character  of   his  poetry, 
extract  from  one  of  his  letters,  79. 

Batty,  Rev.  Christopher:  hymn  by,  his  great  disinterestedness,  con- 
nection Tvith  the  Wesleys,  81. 

399 


4UU  INDEX. 

Baxter,  lU-v.  Richftrd:  his  delight  in  singing.  88;  rolumin 
hi*  writings,  hymns  by.  character  as  a  poet,  82. 

Beddome,  Rev.  Benjamin:  sketch  of  his  life,  invited  to  London, 
attachment  to  Bourton,  83;  his  marriage,  84;  sickness  and 
death  commended  by  Robert  Ball, 

Beecher,  Rev.  Charles:  family  of,  character  of  his  publications,  86. 

Beecher,  Rev.  II.  W.  :  extract  from,  on  the  character  and  influence 
of  hymns,  19. 

Bellamy,  Rev.  Dr.,  on  singing.   13. 

Bernard,  St.  :   his  Latin  hymn,  translation  of  its  parts,  86. 

Berridge,  Rev.  John,  his  singular  characteristics,  87;  his  extraor- 
dinary zeal  and  success,  88 :  anecdotes  relating  to,  89 ;  his 
prospect  in  death,  90. 

Bethune,  Rev.  Gh  W.,  D.D.  :  his  reproof  of  a  hyuin-"  imvrover"  60; 
pleasant  origin  of  one  of  his  hymns,  90 ;  hymns  on  baptism, 
his  entrance  on  the  ministry,  91. 

Beza,  Theodore:  his  encouragement  of  singing,  33. 

Billing,  W.,  on  the  duty  of  singing,  39;  his  N.  England  Psalm-Singer, 
48. 

Blacklock,  Rev.  Thomas.  D.D.  :  born  in  Scotland,  early  blindness,  91  ; 
marriage,  habits  of  composition.  92;  testimonies  of  Spencer 
and  E.  Burke.   92. 

Boden,  Rev.  James :  his  birth,  early  residence,  92  ;  entrance  on  the 
ministry,  his  happy  decease,  93. 

Bonar,  Rev.  Horatius,  D.D.  :  a  native  of  Scotland,  his  family  con- 
nections, 93. 

Bond,  Rev.  T.  E.,  M.D. :  short  popular  hymn  by,  94;  sketch  of  his 
life  and  character,  testimony  of  an  intimate  friend,  94. 

Boston  congregations,  357. 

Boston,  singing  at.  41. 

Bowdler,  John :  his  early  character  and  decease,  95. 

Bowring,  John,  LL.D.  :  remarkable  for  his  attainments,  connected 
with  the  Unitarians,  96. 

Bradbum,  Rev.  Samuel,  337. 

Braintres,  council  at  in  1723,  40:  singing  at,  41. 

Bremer,  Frederika :  a  foreigner,  character  of  her  hymns,  96. 

Brewer,  Rev.  Jehoiada  ;  character  of  his  hymns,  sketch  as  a  theo- 
logian, 96. 

Broaddus,  Rev.  Dr.,  340. 


INDEX.  401 

Bromfield,  Edw.,  Jr.  :  builder  of  the  first  organ  in  Boston,  41. 

Brother,  the,  and  sister,  888. 

Brown,  Rev.  John  N.,  D.D.  :  attached  to  the  Baptists,  decline  of  his 
health,  devotedness  to  literature,  97. 

Brown,  Mrs.  Phoebe  H. :  her  religious  character  misapprehended,  97 ; 
her  defence,  her  hymn  first  printed,  mission  of  her  son,  98. 

Browne,  Rev.  Simon :  origin  of  his  ministry,  singular  malady,  98 ; 
its  origin,  Toplady's  opinion  of  him,  99;  Dr.  Watts's  testi- 
mony to,  100. 

Browning,  Elizabeth  Barrett :  her  first  publication,  Dr.  Bethune's  esti- 
mate of  her  talents,  100;  her  early  afflictions  and  recovery, 
101. 

Bryant,  John  H. :  native  of  New  England,  removed  to  Illinois,  his 
mental  character,  101. 

Bryant,  William  C. :  birth  and  education,  engagements  and  ge- 
nius, 102. 

Budden,  William  :  hymn  by,  102. 

Bunting,  Rev.  W. :  his  character,  attainments  and  spirit  of,  103. 

Bunyan,  Rev.  John :  character  as  a  hymn-writer,  hymn  by,  104. 

Burder,  Rev.  George :  hymn  by,  sketch  of,  104 ;  usefulness  of,  105. 

Burgess,  Bishop :  early  studies  of,  consecrated  bishop,  works,  105. 

Burke,  Hon.  E. :  his  testimony  to  Dr.  Blacklock,  92. 

Burnham,  Rev.  Richard :  pastor  of  Baptist  churches,  his  life  a  check- 
ered one,  106. 

Burns,  Robert:  destitute  of  piety,  106;  peculiar  talents,  immo- 
rality, 107. 

California:  tune  so  called,  51. 

Calvin,  John  :  his  introduction  of  singing,  33. 

Cambridge  :  psalms  first  printed  at,  45. 

Campbell,  Thomas:  origin,  early  work,  107;  respect  of  Americans 
for,  decease,  108;  anecdote  of,  315. 

Captive,  the  young  and  her  father :  329. 

Cawood,  Rev.  John :  his  education  and  works,  108. 

Cecil,  Rev.  Richard :  beautiful  hymn  by,  108 ;  his  history  and  cha- 
racter, 109. 

Celano,  Thomas  Von:  his  celebrated  Latin  hymn,  versions  of,  109; 
extraordinary  effects  of,  opinions  of  by  Scott.  Johnson,  and 
others,  110;  curious  facts  of.  111. 


40^!  INDEX. 

Cenniek,  Kev.  John:  favorite  hymn  by,  dispute  as  to  its  author,  111  ; 
anecdote  of,  other  hymns  by  Cenniek,  112. 

Chanting  :  Dr.  Whittaker  on  its  usefulness,  63. 

Chapin,  Rev.  E.  H.,  D.D. :  his  birth,  112;  charges  and  publica- 
tions, 113. 

Charlemagne :  his  authorship  of  Veni  Creator,  dispute  respecting, 
character  of,  113. 

Child,  a  sick,  322. 

Chimney-Sweeper,  a,  319. 

China,  358. 

Choir:  fully  established  at  Worcester,  42;  reproved  by  a  minis- 
ter, 52,  53.    . 

Chorister,  a,  administers  reproof  to  a  minister,  52. 

Christians :  the  early  subjects  of  their  singing,  24. 

Churches  in  Scotland,  374. 

Circle,  a  private,  379. 

Clarke,  Kev.  Dr.  A.  :  his  dislike  to  instrumental  music  in  worship,  56. 

Clergyman,  a  Vermont,  321. 

Clergymen  in  Georgia,  346. 

Clergymen,  thoughtless,  340. 

Cobbin,  Rev.  Ingram :  birth  and  parentage  of,  failure  of  his  health, 
his  devotedness  to  Christian  literature,  114. 

Coincidence,  358. 

Coleman,  Dr.  L.  :  his  testimony  as  to  the  singing  of  the  ancient 
pagans.  23 ;  of  the  early  Christians,  24 ;  Germans,  34. 

Collier,  the  historian,  on  church-music,  65. 

Collegiate  dinner  at  Andover,  373. 

Collyer,  Rev.  Dr.  W.  B.  :  his  distinguished  popularity,  his  numerous 
hymns,  115;  interview  with  Dr.  Raffles,  226. 

Common  Prayer  Book:  its  use  as  a  text,  31. 

Conder,  Josiah :  birth  and  education,  extent  of  poetical  and  other 
writings,  116;  his  testimony  as  to  singing  at  the  Reforma- 
tion, 31. 

Congregational  services,  length  of,  64. 

Congregational  singing,  37' ». 

Cotterill,  Rev.  Thomas :  friend  of  James  Montgomery,  author  of 
several  hymns,  116  :  his  alteration  of  the  hymns  of  others,  117. 

Cotton,  Nathaniel.  M.D.  :  success  among  the  insane.  Cowpers  esti- 
mate of  him.  117. 


INDEX.  408 

Cowper,  William:  early  history,  his  i'jivorite  residences  still  objects 
of  attraction,  118;  his  beautiful  hymns,  "Light  shining  out  of 
Darkness,"  "Oh  for  a  closer  walk  with  God,"  119;  Dr. 
Southey's  mistake  respecting  him,  "How  blest  thy  creature 
is,  0  God,"  120;  "Far  from  the  world,  0  Lord,  I  flee,"  121 ; 
Cowper's  reflection  in  church,  122;  Cowper's  share  in  the 
"  Olneg  Hymns"  his  contribution  to  the  "Bills  of  Mortality ," 
123;  "No  longer  I  follow  a  sound,"  124;  "Hear,  Lord,  the 
song  of  praise  and  prayer,"  Andrew  Fuller's  testimony  to 
Cowper's  piety,  125. 

Coxe,  Rev.  A.  C,  D.D.,  his  high  reputation,  connected  with  the  Epis- 
copal Church,  126. 

Crosswell,  Rev.  W.,  D.D.  :  author  of  several  beautiful  hymns,  126; 
his  death  sudden  and  affecting,  1-7. 

Crowd,  a  vast,  380. 

Crurtenden,  Robert :  an  eminent  Londoner  in  the  eighteenth  century, 
an  occasional  preacher,  127  ;  his  conversion  and  happy  death, 
128. 

Cunningham,  Rev.  J.  W. :  eminent  for  sweetness  of  Christian  spirit, 
Head  Master  of  Harrow  School,  128. 

Cutting,  Rev.  S.  S. :  his  life  marked  by  activity  and  usefulness,  yet 
promises  much  good  for  the  Church,  129. 

Dagg,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  L.  :  interesting  anecdote  by,  340. 

Dale,  Rev.  Thomas  :  his  early  history,  eminent  success  in  his  literary 

and  poetical  efforts,  129. 
Dark  ages :  state  of  singing  in  the,  30. 
David  :  his  musical  establishments,  22. 
Davies,   Rev.  :   President  at  Princeton,  author  of  several  excellent 

hymns,  his  eminence  as  a  preacher,  130. 
Davies,   Rev.   Eliel:    his   father   schoolmaster  of   John   B.    Gough, 

"From  every  earthly  pleasure,"'  early  decease,  131. 
Dawson,  W.  :  his  "  Youths'  Entertaining  Amusement,"  49. 
Dawson,  W. :  anecdotes  of,  222,  345. 
Day,  Stephen :  his  book  of  psalms  first  printed,  45. 
Deacon  in  a  difficulty,  347. 

Denham,  Rev.  David:  his  early  history,  and  places  of  ministry,  131. 
Dickson,  Rev.  David:   favorite  hymn  by,  authorship  disputed.  132; 

affecting  anecdote  of  its  influence.  133. 


404  lNj-i.x. 

Doane,  Bishop:  Lis  early  history,  and  works,  184. 

Doddridge,  Rev.  Philip,  D.D.,  184:  Dr.  Slaughters  testimony,  suc- 
cess of  his  hymns,  his  versatility,  mode  of  composing,  135;  Dr. 
James  Hamilton's  beautiful  tribute,  136;  origin  of  the  hymns 
'•  Now  let  our  mourning  hearts  revive."  ;-  Let  Zions  watchmen 
all  awake,"  "  My  God,  thy  service  well  demands,"  "  Shepherd 
of  Israel,  bend  thine  ear,"  107.  -And  will  the  great  eternal 
God,"  "Great  God  of  heaven  and  nature,  rise,"  his  talent  for 
satire,  epigrams,  138;  his  early  rising,  and  use  of  the  hymn 
'•  Awake,  my  soul,  to  meet  the  day,"  verses  for  children,  their 
popularity  and  usefulness,  139;  remarkable  dream,  140. 

Dryden,  John  :  author  of  paraphrase  of  "  tr  Spinhm,9*  afas 

of  "  Te  Deum  Laudamus,"  141. 

Duffield,  Rev.  George,  Jr.:  "Stand  up!  stand  up  for  Jesus!"  its 
solemn  origin,  his  early  history  and  Christian  usefulness,  14ft 

Dwight,  Rev.  Timothy,  D.D. :  valuable  character  of  hi-  works,  ««  The 
Conquest  of  Canaan,"  148. 

Dyer,  Rev.  Sidney:  sketch  of.  and  hymns  by.  144. 

Eastburxe,  Rev.  J.  W. :  valuable  character  of  hymn  by,  144. 

Edmeston,  James:  sketch  of,  various  works,  146. 

Edward  VI.  :  state  of  singing  in  his  day,  30. 

Edwards,  Rev.  Jonathan:  his  testimony  on  the  character  of  the  old 
hymns,  32  ;  his  testimony  on  singing,  45  :  enjoined  the  duty,  55. 

Eliot,  John:  his  translation  of  the  psalms,  46. 

Elliott,  Charlotte:  eminent  usefulness  of  hymn  by,  144:  sketch  of 
her  life,  145. 

Elliott,  Rev.  R.  :  author  of  well-known  hymn,  sketch  of  life.  145. 

Emmons,  Rev.  Dr.,  360. 

Enfield,  Rev.  William,  LL.D. :  ministry  and  professorship  in  Eng- 
land, his  life  and  sermons  published  by  Dr.  Aikin,  140. 

English  clerks,  361. 

Eusebius,  his  testimony  as  to  the  singing  of  the  primitive  Christians, 
25. 

Evans,  Rev.  Jonathan:  sketch  of  life  and  character,  146:  his  dis- 
tinguished and  prolonged  usefulness.  147. 

Facts,  miscellaneous,  378. 
Family,  a.  in  Louisiana,  to-. 


INDEX  4U5 

Fanch,  Rev.  James:  joint  author  of  a  hymn  with  Rer.  Daniel 
Turner,  251. 

Fault  found,  345. 

Fawcett,  Rev.  John,  D.D.  :  long  and  devoted  ministry,  Lis  early 
hymns,  ''Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds,"  147 ;  its  popularity, 
148  ;  <;  Essay  on  Anger,"  and  anecdote  concerning  it,  his  fond- 
ness for  psalmody,  149;   a  closing  scene,  160. 

Fellowes,  John  :  character  of  his  writings,  contemporary  with  Gill  and 
Toplady,  150;  mistake  corrected,  161. 

Fletcher,  Rev.  John:  testimony  to  Rev.  Thomas  Oliver,  214;  his 
favorite  hymn,  Mr.  Southey  and  Mr.  Benson's  high  estimate 
of  his  character,  276. 

Follen,  Eliza  Lee:  hymns  by,  success  of  her  writings,  her  bereave- 
ment, 151. 

Francis,  Rev.  Benjamin  :  early  usefulness,  151  ;  ignorance  of  the 
English  language,  his  distinguished  success,  his  piety,  happy 
decease,  1~>2. 

Furman,  Rev.  Richard,  D.D.  :  his  character  and  successful  labors, 
his  influential  position,  153. 

Furness,  Rev.  W.  H.,  D.D.  :  hymns  by,  character  of  his  writings; 
identified  with  numerous  reform-movements.  153;  fondness 
for  the  fine  arts,  154. 

Gallaudet,   Thomas    H.,   LL.D.  :  interest    in   the   deaf    and    dumb, 

character  of  his  mind  and  writings,  154. 
Gambold,  Rev.  John:  hymn  by,  154:  a  favorite  of  Rowland  Hill,  his 

early  history,  his  eminent  piety  us  displayed  in  his  writings, 

testimony  of  Judge  Story,  155. 
Gerhard,   Rev.  Paul:  popularity  and  character  of  his  hymns,  a  fa- 
vorite German  poet,  166;  his  "Hymn  to  Christ"  87. 
Germany  :   universal  singing  in,  34. 
Gibbons,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.D.  :  intimate  with  Whitefield  and  Dr.  Watts, 

Dr.  Cotton  Mather's  testimony,  157. 
Gilbert,  Ann :  her  family  connections,  157  ;  character  of  her  writings, 

158. 
Gisborne,   Rev.   Thomas :    his   official  position,    high   character  and 

popularity  of  his  writings,  158. 
Glenelge,    Lord:    warm   friend  of    missions,    158;   elevation   to   the 

peerage,  150. 


LOO  1M»LX. 

Good,  John  Mason,  M.D.  :   his  versatility,  change  of  faith  ;   tribute  of 

Mr.  Allibone,  159. 
Gould :  his  description  of  singing  at  Plymouth  Rock,  38. 
Gould,    Hannah  F:    her  early  history,  elevating  character  of   her 

poetry,  160. 
Grant,   John:    his   position   and   character,    adaptation  of   secular 

melodies,  160. 
Greene,  Thomas:  favorite  hymn  by,  161. 
Griffin,  Rev.  Dr.  E.  D.,  338. 

Grigg,  Rev.  Joseph:  his  early  history,  hymns  by,  161. 
Griswold,  Dr.  R.  W. :  testimony  of  to  J.  H.  Bryant.  101. 
Guion,  Madame:   sketch  of  by  William  Cowper,  161;  her  religious 

views,  162 ;  employment  while  in  prison,  happy  submission 

to  her  lot,  163. 

Hall,  Robert,  320,  339. 

Hammond,  Rev.  Wm.  :  increasing  usefulness  of  his  compositions,  163  ; 
his  change  of  faith,  other  works  by,  164. 

Hart,  Rev.  Joseph :  his  faithfulness  through  affliction,  testimony  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Hughes,  164;  funeral  of,  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson, 
165. 

Hawes,  Rev.  Thomas,  LL.B.,  M.D.  :  expelled  from  Oxford  Univer- 
sity, its  consequence.  Lady  Huntingdon's  chaplain,  165;  his 
writings,  interest  in  missiuiis,  testimony  of,  and  anecdote  by, 
Rev.  John  Newton,  166. 

Heber,  Bishop:  his  history  and  sudden  death,  "From  Greenland's 
icy  mountains,"  its  origin,  167  ;   alteration  thereof,  168. 

Herbert,  Rev.  George :  his  exemplary  life,  fondness  for  music,  a 
wayside  incident,  169;  his  peaceful  death,  the  forcible  cha- 
racter of  his  hymns,  170. 

Hervey,  Rev.  G.  W.  :  his  remarks  on  John  Wesley,  55. 

Hervey,  Rev.  James:  his  charity,  writings,  appearance,  and  elo- 
quence, 171  ;  his  estimate  of  himself,  172. 

Hill,  Governor,  315. 

Hill.  Rev.  Rowland:  his  lack  of  poetical  talent,  usefulness  of  his 
hymns,  172;  his  delight  in  Sunday-schools,  hymns  revised  by 
Cowper,  173. 

Home,  Bishop:  character  of  his  hymns,  173:  his  fondness  for  the 
Psalms,  174. 


im>i;x.  407 

Humphries,  Rev.  Joseph :  several  hymns  by,  174. 

Hymn,  character  of  a,  19. 

Hymn,  influence  of  a  good,  21. 

H)  l.in,  origin  of  a.  20. 

Hymns,  authors  of  the  early,  24. 

Hymns,  improper  alterations  in,  57. 

Hymns  of  the  old  style,  852. 

Ide,  Rev.  G.  B.,  D.D. :  sketch  of  life,  hymns  by,  174. 
Instrumental  music  in  worship :  John   Wesley's  dislike  to,   Dr.  A. 
Clarke's  disapproval  of,  56. 

Jay,  Rev.  William  :  hymns  by,  his  prolonged  and  successful  ministry, 

his  manner  of  preaching,  175. 
Jerome :  testimony  to  the  early  singing,  26. 

Jesuits  :  their  opposition  to  singing,  33  ;  practised  it  in  Brazil,  57. 
Jewess,  a  dying,  317. 
Jones,    Rev.   Edward:    eminent   piety    of,    175;    character   of   his 

writings,  176. 
Judson,  Rev.  Adoniram:    hymns  by,   176;    early    history  of,    177; 

his  devotion  to  Christian  missions,  177. 

Keach,  Rev.  B. :  his  work  on  singing,  32. 

Kelly,  Rev.  Thomas:  early  history,  177;  eloquence  of,  humility  of, 
178;  meeting  with  Lord  Plunket,  happy  death,  179. 

Ken,  Bishop:  his  hymns  and  Doxology,  179;  his  early  history,  in- 
stances of  Christian  fortitude,  180;  Montgomery's  testimony, 
181. 

Kent,  John :  humble  origin  of,  sketch  of  his  life  and  death,  182. 

Key,  Francis  S.  :  hymn  by,  scene  at  the  communion-table,  183 

Kingsbury,  Rev.  William :  two  beautiful  hymns  by,  his  remarkable 
conversion,  his  long  pastorate,  his  connection  with  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  his  peaceful  death,  184. 

Kippis,  Rev.  Andrew,  D.D.  :  his  early  life,  character  of  his  writings, 
185. 

Kirkham,  Rev.  John :  hymn  by,  believed  to  have  been  a  fellow- 
student  of  the  Wesleys  and  Whitefield,  186. 

Klopstock  and  his  wife,  336. 


408  INDEX. 

Lady,  an  aged,  322. 

Landlord,  Kev.  John:  sketch  of  his  life,  his  j>iet y,  186. 

Leavht,  Dr.  Joshua:   on  singing  in  seasons  of  revival,  67. 

Leland,  Rev.  John:  origin  of  the  hymn,  "Christians,  it  your  hearts 

are  warm,"  187. 
Logan,  Rev.  John:  sketch  of  his  life,  187;  character  of  his  writings, 

188. 
Longfellow,  Henry  W. :   favorite  hymns  by,  character  of  his  poems, 

188. 
Lover,  a  taunting,  316. 
Luther,   Martin :  his  love  and  practice  of  singing,   34  ;  assisted  by 

Walther,  35. 
Lutton,  Ann :  a  correspondent  of  the  "  Revivalist,"  her  hymn  adapted 

to  "  Sweet  Home"  its  usefulness,  189. 
Lyons,  Mr. :  his  "  Urania,"  48. 
Lyte,  Rev.  Henry  Francis:   author  of  a  hymn  attributed  to  wrong 

authors,  sketch  of  his  life,  character  of  his  writings,  190. 

Mace,  Master:  his  "Music's  Monument,"  37. 

Mackay,  Mrs.:   "Asleep  in  Jesus,  blessed  sleep,"  190;  anecdote  of 

its  origin,  191. 
Madan,  Rev.  Martin:  remarkable  conversion  of,   191  ;   sketch  of  his 

life  and  writings,  192 
Man,  a  young,  305. 
Man,  a  young,  in  Virginia,  323. 
Manly,  Rev.  Basil,  Jr. :  one  of  the  editors  of  "  The  Baptist  rsalmody" 

character  of  his  hymns,  his  laborious  life,  193. 
Marlowe,  Mr.  J. :  his  work  on  singing.  32. 
Marot,  Clement:  his  version  of  the  Psalms,  33. 
Mason,  Rev.  John:  number  and  character  of  his  hymns,  193. 
Mason,  Dr.  Lowell:  his  early  literary  history,  40:  anecdote  by,  243. 
Mather,  Dr.  C,  on  the  services  of   the  Pilgrim  churches,  39;  his 

translation  of  the  Psalms,  47. 
Maze  Pond,  London :   origin  of  the  church  in,  33. 
Medley,  Rev.  Samuel :  his  early  life  and  conversion,  his  subsequent 

successful  ministry,  194;  his  hymns  and  other  writings,  195. 
Millerite  preacher  reproved,  52. 
Milman,  Rev.  Henry  H.  :   character  of  his  various  writings,  what 

his  hymns  lack,  195. 


indkx  409 

Milton,  John:  his  view  of  David's  singers,  22;  hymns  by,  their 
beauty,  19G;  sketch  of  "his  manner  of  life,"  197. 

Minister,  a  Tory,  342. 

Minister:  reproof  given  by  one  to  a  chorister,  52. 

Miscellaneous,  388. 

Miscellaneous  facts,  378. 

Missionaries'  landing,  the,  383. 

Montgomery,  James:  his  testimony  on  the  Doxology,  181;  devoted 
labors  for  the  Christian  press,  its  influence,  197  ;  premature 
report  of  his  death,  scene  at  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Con- 
ference at  Sheffield,  198 ;  his  regular  contribution  to  the  Sun- 
day-school jubilees,  199 ;  his  last  hymn  for  a  Sunday-school 
Union,  hymn  written  in  York  Castle,  200 ;  his  ideas  and 
manner  of  composition,  "Servant  of  God,  well  done!"  201; 
"Go  to  the  grave  in  all  thy  glorious  prime,"  occasion  of  their 
composition,  202. 

Moody,  Rev.  S. :  his  reproof  of  his  precentor,  45. 

Moore,  Thomas :  high  character  of  his  poetic  qualities,  influence  of 
his  early  poems,  sketch  of  his  life,  203 ;  his  description  of 
Charles  Wesley,  271. 

More,  Hannah :  Rev.  John  Newton's  admiration  of,  208. 

Morell,  Rev.  Thomas  :  several  valuable  hymns  by,  sketch  of  his  life, 
204. 

Mother,  an  unhappy,  308. 

Mother,  a  suffering,  319. 

Muhlenberg,  Rev.  Wm,  A.,  D.D. :  favorite  hymn  by,  its  history,  204. 

Music :  Rev.  Charles  Wesley  on  the  proper  use  of  instrumental, 
John  Wesley  and  Dr.  A.  Clarke  opposed  to,  56. 

Music,  singular,  351. 

Needham,  Rev.  John :  hymns  by,  sketch  of  his  life,  205. 

Neighbors,  quarrelsome,  335. 

"New  England  Courant"  on  the  Braintree  Council,  40. 

Newton,  Rev.  James :  high  reputation  and  usefulness  of,  author  of  a 
volume  of  original  hymns,  206. 

Newton,  Rev.  John:  his  early  life  and  conversion,  associated  with 
Cowper,  206  ;  his  style  and  manner  of  preaching,  his  popu- 
larity, 207 ;  his  admiration  of  Hannah  More,  208 ;  delightful 
character  of  his  writings,  209 ;  a  singular  fact,  210. 


410  INDEX. 

New  York  merchants. 

Nobleman,  an  English,  309. 

Noel,  Hon.  and  Rev.  Baptist :  hymns  by,  early  history,  change  of 

opinion,  210. 
Norton,  Andrews:  hymns  by,  sketch  of  his  life,  211. 

Oberlin,  John  F. :  hymn  by,  his  mother's  early  teachings,  211 ;  his 

early  piety  and  distinguished  success,  212. 
Occum,  Rev.  Samson :  his  visit  to  England,  hymn  by,  its  usefulness,  213. 
Officer,  a  military,  82 
Officers  of  the  British  navy,  385. 
"  Old  Hundred,"  origin  of  the  tune,  66. 
Olivers,  Rev.  Thomas:  noble  character  of  hymns  by,  sketch  of  his 

life,   testimony  of  Rev.  John  Fletcher,   214;  John  Wesley's 

reference  to  him,  215. 
Oxford,  Te  Deum  annually  sung  in  the  University  of,  28. 

Pal,  Krishna :  first  Hindoo  convert,  215 ;  his  successful  ministry, 

hymns  by,  216. 
Palmer,  Mrs.  :  hymn  by,  216. 

Palmer,  Rev.  Ray,  D.D. :  origin  of  a  favorite  hymn  by,  217 
Parker,  Rev.  J.  :  anecdote  by,  305. 
Parody,  an  old,  351. 
Pastor,  a  dying,  324. 

Peabody,  Rev.  A.  P.,  D.D. :  character  of  his  works,  217. 
Pearce,  Rev.  Samuel:    the  beauty  of  his  hymns,  his  early  death, 

218. 
Persecutor,  an  Irish,  304. 
Perronett,  Rev.  Edward:   "All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name!"  its 

history,  sketch  of  his  life,  219. 
Pilgrim  Fathers :  their  delight  in  singing,  38. 
Plymouth  Rock :  first  song  of  praise  at,  38. 
Pope,  Alexander:  ode  by,  its  origin,  John  "Wesley's  admiration  of  it, 

225. 
"Presbyterian  Quarterly  Review :"  extract  from  on  the  character  of  a 

hymn,  19. 
Psalmist,  the  blind,  32G. 

Quaker  hymn-book  :  one  published,  51. 


NDEX. 


Ill 


Raffles,  Rev.  Thomas,  D.D.,  LL.D.  :  intimacy  with  Dr.  Collyor,  226  ; 
sudden  death  of  Rev.  Thomas  Spencer,  succeeded  as  pastor 
by  Dr.  R.,  sketch  of  his  character,  227;  pastoral  hymns  by,  228. 

Redstone  Presbytei-y,  856. 

Reed,  Rev.  Andrew,  D.D. :  several  hymns  and  other  works  by,  228; 
his  visit  to  the  United  States,  229. 

Reformation :  state  of  singing  at  the  time  of,  30. 

Revivals  :  character  of  music  in,  G7. 

Right  feelings :  importance  of,  349. 

Robinson,  Rev.  Robert:  hymns  by,  sketch  of  his  life,  229;  "Come, 
thou  Fount  of  every  blessing,"  anecdote  regarding  it,  230; 
favorite  hymn,  origin  of,  231. 

Rowley :  extracts  from  the  history  of.   on  singing,  43. 

Royalists  and  Roundheads :  the  collisions  of,  36. 

Ryland,  Rev.  John,  D.D.  :  his  early  history,  231 ;  succeeds  his  father 
as  pastor,  Dr.  John  Pye  Smith's  estimate  of  him,  "In  all  my 
Lord's  appointed  ways,"  its  origin,  232  ;  "  Lord,  teach  a  little 
child  to  pray,"  its  interesting  origin,  and  mode  of  circulating 
the  hymn,  233. 

Sacramental  Singing,  373. 

Scene,  an  impressive,  375. 

Shirley,  Hon.  and  Rev.  Walter :  hymns  by,  his  holy  zeal  and  success- 
ful ministry,  235. 

Sigourney,  Lydia  Huntley :  beauty  of  her  compositions,  her  early 
history,  her  position  as  a  writer,  236. 

Singing  at  Bangor,  353. 

Singing  on  board  the  North  Carolina,  373. 

Singing,  regulations  of,  348. 

Singing:  the  primitive,  universally  practised,  25. 

Sisters :  two  in  New  York  State,  328. 

Smith,  Rev.  S.  F.,  D.D. :  hymns  by,  one  of  the  editors  of  "  The  Psalm- 
ist," 237. 

Spence,  Rev.  Joseph:  testimony  of  to  Dr.  Blacklock,  92. 

Spencer,  Rev.  Thomas  :   sudden  death  of,  227. 

Sprague,  Rev.  Dr. :   extract  from  his  "American  A?inals,"  44. 

Steele,  Anne  :  her  early  history,  237  ;  testimony  of  Dr.  Caleb  Evans, 
her  peaceful  death,  238 ;  appropriate  epitaph,  powerful  in- 
fluence of  her  hymns,  239. 


412  INDEX. 

Btennett,  Ber.  Samuel,  D.D. :  personal  friend  of  Geo.  III.,  239;  re- 
fuses high  preferment,  his  happy  decease,  240. 

Sternhold  and  Hopkins :  Thomas  Fuller's  opinion  of  their  psalms, 
singular  character  of  Sternhold,  Scaliger's  delight  in  the 
Eighteenth  Psalm  as  rendered  by  Sternhold,  242;  the  popu- 
larity of  their  versions,  243. 

Stevens,  Rev.  B. :  pastor  at  Kittery,  44. 

Stillman,  Rev.  Dr.,  339. 

Strype :  testimony  of  as  to  singing  in  1559,  30. 

Sunday-school,  an  Irish,  312. 

Sutton,  Rev.  Amos,  D.D. :  hymn  by,  its  beauty,  sketch  of  his  life, 
241. 

Swaine,  Rev.  Joseph :  hymns  by,  sketch  of  his  life,  early  death,  244. 

Symmes,  Rev.  Mr.,  on  the  singing  of  the  New  England  settlers,  39. 

Tappan,  Wm.  B.  :  hymns  by,  his  interest  in  Sabbath-schools,  245. 

Tate  and  Brady  :  their  "New  Version  of  the  Psalms,"  sketch  of  their 
history,  246. 

Taylor,  Rev.  Thomas :  hymn  written  by  James  Montgomery  to  com- 
memorate the  death  of,  201. 

Tersteegan,  G. :  hymns  by,  his  humble  and  pious  life,  the  valuable 
influence  it  exerted,  beauty  of  his  poetry,  247. 

Toplady,  Rev.  Augustus  M. :  his  early  history,  his  power  as  a 
preacher,  248 ;  his  blissful  anticipations  of  death,  249 ;  anec- 
dote by  Dr.  Pomeroy,  250. 

Topsfield :  extract  from  Church  Records  of  on  singing,  44. 

Tuck,  Miss :  hymns  by,  and  other  works,  250. 

Tufts,  Mr. :  his  introduction  to  singing,  48. 

Tunes :  character  of  the  old,  66  ;  character  of  good,  Andrew  Fuller 
on,  68. 

Turner,  Rev.  Daniel :  hymns  by,  sketch  of  his  life  and  writings, 
251. 

Tupis:  their  love  of  music,  57. 

Walker,  Rev.  Mr.,  on  the  singing  of  the  old  New  England  churches, 

40. 
Wallin,  Rev.  Benjamin:  hymn  by,  his  early  history,  252:  succeeds 

his  father  as  pastor  of  Maze  Pond  Baptist  Church,  253. 
Walther:  assistance  rendered  bv  him  to  Luther,  35. 


INDEX.  413 

Ward,  Rev.  W.  :  missionary  hymn  by,  anecdote  of  Win.  Carey,  253 ; 
sketch  of  his  life  and  labors,  254. 

Wardlaw,  Rev.  Ralph  :  hymns  by,  sketch  of  his  life,  and  character 
of  his  writings,  254. 

Ware,  Rev.  Henry,  D.D. :  sketch  of  his  life,  254;  character  of  his 
hymns,  205. 

Washburn,  H.  S. :  hymns  by,  his  important  services,  255. 

Watts,  Rev.  Isaac,  D.D. :  some  of  his  hymns  improved  by  John 
Wesley,  62 ;  curious  parody  of  one  of  his  psalms,  51 ;  his 
Huguenot  descent,  his  parents  suffer  for  conscience'  sake,  his 
early  history,  256 ;  character  of  the  hymns  in  use  before  his 
time,  his  first  attempt  to  improve  them,  257 ;  his  first  hymn- 
book,  letter  to  Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  258;  Mr.  Montgomery's 
testimony  to  the  value  of  his  hymns,  259 ;  his  "  Divine  Songs 
for  Children,"  260  ;  "  How  vain  are  all  things  here  below,"  its 
history,  261 ;  "  There  is  a  land  of  pure  delight,"  tribute  to  its 
beauty,  scene  of  its  origin,  262  ;  "Am  I  a  soldier  of  the  cross?" 
noble  character  of  this  hymn,  263  ;  his  friendship  with  Dr. 
Doddridge,  "  Give  me  the  wings  of  faith,  to  rise,"  its  powerful 
effect,  264 ;  Mrs.  S.  C.  Hall's  visit  to  his  home,  265 ;  testi- 
mony of  William  Wilberforce,  his  psalms  and  hymns  in  Africa, 
266 ;  testimony  of  William  Wirt,  207. 

Wesleys:  the  alteration  of  hymns  censured  by  John  W.,  62;  his 
constant  attention  to  singing,  54 ;  his  knowledge  of  musical 
notes,  55 ;  publication  of  their  hymn-books,  53  ;  their  early 
history  and  descent,  268  ;  the  power  of  their  preaching,  269 ; 
the  wonderful  influence  of  their  hymns,  270 ;  Moore's  descrip- 
tion of  Charles  Wesley,  "Come,  Desire  of  Nations,  come," 
271;  "How  weak  the  thoughts  and  vain,"  history  of  their 
origin,  272;  "Hymns  written  in  the  Times  of  the  Tumults," 
June,  1780,  by  C.  W.,  their  history,  quotation  from  satirical 
poem,  "  Hymns  for  the  Nation,"  occasion  of  their  composition, 
"Come,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,"  its  origin,  273;  Mr. 
Creamer's  defence  of  John  Wesley,  "Thou  God  of  glorious 
majesty,"  where  it  was  composed,  274;  Mr.  Montgomery's 
tribute  to  its  beauty,  Dr.  Adam  Clarke  visits  the  scene  of  its 
composition,  275 ;  "  Stand !  the  omnipotent  decree,"  its  special 
reference,  "Give  me  the  enlarged  desire,"  a  favorite  hymn  of 
John  Fletcher,  276;  "Woe  to  the  men  on  earth  who  dwell," 
35* 


414  INUKX. 

"  By  faith  we  find  the  place  above,"  their  origin,  277  :  "  Glory- 
to  God,  whose  sovereign  grace,"  its  interesting  origin,  278; 
Whitefield's  first  sermon  in  the  open  air,  happy  results,  278  ; 
"Oft  have  we  passed  the  guilty  night,"  "Hearken  to  the 
solemn  voice,"  their  origin,  "Worship,  and  thanks,  and  bless- 
ing," written  after  deliverance  in  a  tumult,  280;  "Oh  for  a 
thousand  tongues  to  sing,"  written  on  the  anniversary  of  their 
conversion,  "Come,  0  thou  all-victorious  Lord,"  where  it 
was  written,  "See  how  great  a  flame  aspires,"  282;  joyful 
occasion  on  which  it  was  written,  "Jesus,  from  thy  heavenly 
place,"  "Long  have  I  seemed  to  serve  thee,  Lord,"  peculiar 
circumstances  of  its  composition,  283;  "Come,  let  us  join 
our  friends  above,"  anecdote  of  John  Wesley  and  Rev.  Thomas 
Spencer,  284;  "God  is  in  this  and  everyplace,"  coincidence 
connected  with  it,  "  The  great  Archangel's  trump  shall  sound," 
its  origin,  285;  "  Shrinking  from  the  cold  hand  of  death," 
anecdote  concerning  it,  "Again  we  lift  our  voice,"  occasion 
of  its  composition,  286;  "Infinite  God,  to  thee  we  raise," 
Mr.  Love's  testimony  to  its  beauty,  "  Thou  hidden  Love  of 
God,  whose  height,"  287  ;  "  How  happy  is  the  pilgrim's  lot," 
Mr.  Creamer's  account  of  its  personal  reference  to  its  author, 
288;  "Behold  the  Saviour  of  mankind,"  its  singular  pre- 
servation and  history,  289. 

Wesley,  Samuel,  Jr. :  various  hymns  by,  special  beauty  of  one  of 
them,  290. 

Western  liturgies  :  character  of  them,  27. 

White,  Henry  Kirke :  his  early  history,  his  works  edited  by  Dr. 
Southey,  291 ;  tablet  erected  to  his  memory,  beautiful  lines 
inscribed  upon  it  by  Professor  Smythe,  292. 

Whitefield  on  chanting,  63. 

Whitefield,  Rev.  G.  :  his  attention  to  singing,  55;  his  first  sermon 
in  the  open  air,  278. 

Whittier,  John  G.  :  a  Quaker  poet,  lack  of  unction  in  his  hymns,  293. 

William  the  Conqueror :  influence  of  singing  in  his  dying  hour,  27. 

Williams,  Rev.  William :  his  early  history  and  arduous  labors,  293 ; 
character  of  his  writings,  294. 

Willis,  Nathaniel  P.  :  hymn  by,  character  of  his  writings,  294 ;  a 
sweet  thought,  295. 

Winchester  College,  Latin  hymn  annually  sung  in,  28. 


INDEX.  415 

Wirt,  William:  his  opinion  of  Watts's  Hymns,  267. 
"Women,  two  young,  834. 
Worcester:  choir  established  at,  42. 

Wordsworth,    William :    sketch   of   his  history,    interesting   extract 
from  one  of  his  letters,  295. 

Xavikk.  Francis:   hymn  by,  his  missionary  ardor,  a  lofty  sentiment, 
297  :  testimony  of  John  Angel  James,  298. 

fork  Minster:  psalm-singing  in,  37. 


THE  END. 


STEREOTYPED   BY    L.   JOHNSON   k   CO. 
PHILADELPHIA. 


T  II  E 


CHRISTIAN    EXAMINEE. 


NOVEMBER,     1859. 


We  should  be  glad,  out  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  one  so  recently 


1859.] 


Preachers  and  Sects. 


449 


called  away,  to  speak  well  of  Dr.  Belcher's  History  of  Hymns.*  But 
it  is  impossible  to  praise  a  book  so  superficial,  feeble,  inadequate,  incor- 
rect, and  bigoted.  The  only  really  good  thing  in  it  is  the  first  extract 
of  the  Introduction,  which  gives  Henry  Ward  Beecher's  thought  on  the 
influence  of  sacred  poetry.  All  the  rest  is  best  described  as  fragmen- 
tary platitude  and  blunder.  The  omissions  are  as  extraordinary  as  the 
admissions,  and  the  critical  judgments  are  equally  false  and  ludicrous. 
What  are  we  to  think  of  a  writer,  who,  inserting  among  hymnists  Mrs. 
Anderson,  Dr.  Baldwin,  William  Budden,  Ingram  Cobbin,  Richard 
Furman,  Eliel  Davis,  and  some  score  of  others  of  whom  no  one  ever 
heard,  omits  all  mention  of  such  writers  as  Bulfinch,  Frothingham, 
Mrs.  Hemans,  Henry  Moore,  Pierpont,  Roscoe,  Thomas  and  Walter 
Scott,  E,  H.  Sears,  Sprague,  John  and  Emily  Taylor,  Sir  Henry  Wot- 
ton,  and  others  of  equal  note  ?  What  shall  be  said  of  a  scholar,  who 
gravely  informs  us  that  Charlemagne  is  a  lyric  poet,  and  the  author  of 
the  '•  Veni  Creator"  of  the  Catholic  Church,  though  some  pages  farther 
on.  and  borrowing  from  another  authority,  he  makes  Ambrose  the 
author  of  that  hymn  ?  Dr.  Peabody  of  Portsmouth  will  be  surprised 
to  learn  from  this  volume,  not  only  that  he  is  "  Professor  in  the  Cam- 
bridge University,"  but  that  he  is  the  author  of  the  funeral  hymn  here- 
tofore credited  to  the  late  Dr.  Peabodv  of  Springfield,  and  that  he  is 


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